West Bengal act 058 of 1980 : Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980

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GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

West Bengal Act LVIII of 1980

THE HOWRAH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

ACT, 1980.

[Passed by the West Bengal Legislature.] [Assent of the President was first published in the Calcutta Gazette, Extraordinary, of the 30th November, 1981.]

[30th November, 1981.]

An Act to provide for better administration of the municipal affairs of Howrah by the establishment of a Municipal Corporation. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for better administration of the municipal affairs of Howrah by the establishment of aMunicipal Corporation; It is hereby enacted in the Thirty-first Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:—

PART I

CHAPTER I

Preliminary.

1. (1) This Act may be called the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.

(2) It shall apply to Howrah as defined in this Act.

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

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— Definitions.

(I) "building" includes a house, outhouse, stable, privy, urinals, shed, hut, walls (other than a boundary wall not exceeding three metres in height) and any other such structure, whether of masonry, bricks, wood, mud, metal or any other material whatsoever, but does not include a hogla or other similar kind of temporary shed erected on ceremonial or festive occasions;

(2) "building line" means the line which is in rear of the street alignment and up to which the main wall of a building of a land abutting on a street or projected public street may lawfully extend;

Short title,

application

and

commence-

ment.

275

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Pan L—Chapter 1—Preliminary.—Section 2.)

(3) "bustee" means an area containing land not less than seven hundred square metres in area occupied by or for the purposes of any collection of huts or other structures used or intended to be used for human habitation;

Explanation.—If any question arises as to whetherparticular area is or is not a bustee, the Corporation shall decide the question and its decision shall be final;

(4) "by-law" means a by-law made by the Corporation under this Act;

(5) "consolidated rate" includes the surcharge levied on the consolidated rate under this Act;

(6) "Corporation" means the Howrah Municipal Corporatin established under this Act;

(7) "corrupt practice" means any act deemed to be a corrupt practice under rules to be made by the State Government in this behalf;

(8) "dangerous disease" means—

(a) cholera, plague, small-pox, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, leprosy and syphilis, and

(b) any other epidemic, endemic, or infectious disease which the State Government may, by notification, declare to be a dangerous disease for the purposes of this Act;

(9) "drain" includes a sewer, a house drain, a drain of any other description, a tunnel, a culvert, a ditch, a channel and any other device for carrying off sullage, sewage, offensive matter, polluted water, rain water or sub-soil water;

(10) "drug" means any substance used as medicine or in the composition or preparation of medicine, whether for internal or external use, but does not include a drug within the meaning of clause (b) of section 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; 23 of 1940.

(11) "elected member" includes a Councillor and Alderman;

(12) "election authority" means the authority appointed by the State Government under section 33;

(13) "erection of a building" or "to erect a building" means—

(a) to erect a new building on any site, whether previously built upon or not,

276

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 1.—Chapter 1.—Preliminary.--Section 2.)

(b) to re-erect—

(i) any building of which more than one-half of the cubical contents above the level of plinth and within the exteral surface of its walls and roofs have been pulled down, burnt or destroyed,

(ii) any building of which more than one-half of the superficial area of the external walls above the level of plinth has been pulled down, or

(iii) any frame-building of which more than half of the number of posts or beams in the external walls have been pulled down; or

(c) to make any addition to a building including roofing or covering an open space between walls or buildings, or closing permanently any door or window in any external wall, or removing or reconstructing the principal stair- case, or

(d) to make such conversion, including conversion from one occupancy or use group to another, as may be determined by the Corporation by regulation;

(14) "food" includes every article used for food or drink by man, other than drugs or water, and any article which ordinarily enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of human food, and also includes confec- tionary, flavouring and colouring matters, spices and condiments;

(15) "Howrah" means the area described in Schedule I;

(16) "hut" means any building, no substantial part of which excluding the walls up to a height of fifty centimetres above the floor or floor level is constructed of masonry, reinforced concrete, steel, iron or other metal;

(17) "land or building" includes a bustee;

(18) "market" shall be deemed to be synonymous with the expression "bazar" and shall mean—

(a) a place where persons assemble for the sale of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, livestock, or any other article of food of a perishable nature, whether or not there is any collection of shops or warehouses or stalls for the sale of other articles in such place, or

277

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Pan 1.—Chapter 1.—Preliminary.—Section 2.)

(b) any place of trade, other than a place referred to in sub- clause (a), where there is a collection of shops or warehouses or stalls exceeding such number as the Corporation may determine,

declared and licensed by the Corporation as a market;

(19) "misbranded" includes all drugs or articles of food which enter into the composition of food, the package or mark or label of which bears any statement, design or device regarding such drugs or articles of food or the ingredients or substances contained therein as may be false or may mislead in any particular, and a drug or an article of food shall also be deemed to be misbranded if it is offered for sale under the name of another drug or article of food;

(20) "new building" means and includes—

(a) any building constructed or in the process of construction after the commencement of this Act,

(b) any building which, having collapsed or having been demolished or burnt down for more than one-half of its cubical extent of the space contained within the external surface of its walls and roof and the upper surface of the floor of its lowest or only storey, is reconstructed wholly or partially after the commencement of this Act, whether the dimensions of the reconstructed building are the same as those of the original building or not,

(c) any building not originally constructed for human habitation which is converted into a place for human habitation after the commencement of this Act; Explanation.—Sub-clause (b) applies whether more than one-half of the cubical extent of any building has collapsed or been demolished or burnt down at the same time or at different times;

(21) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(22) "occupier" includes any person for the time being paying or liable to pay to the owner the rent or any portion of the rent of the land or building in respect of which the word is used or for damages on account of the occupation of such land or building, and also a rent-free tenant:

Provided that an owner living in or otherwise using his own land or building shall be deemed to be the occupier thereof;

278

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 1.—Chapter 1.—Preliminary.—Section 2.)

(23) "prescribed" with its grammatical variations means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(24) "private street" means any street, road, lane, gully, alley, passage or square which is not a public street, and includes any passage securing access to four or more premises belonging to the same or different owners, but does not include a passage provided in effecting a partition of any masonry building amongst joint owners where such passage is less than two metres and fifty centimetres wide;

(25) "public street" means any street, road, lane, gully, alley, passage, pathway, square or court, whether a thoroughfare or not, over which the public have a right of way and includes—

(a) the roadway over any public bridge or causeway,

(b) the footway attached to any such street, public bridge or causeway, and

and, where there is no drain attached to any such street, shall, unless the contrary is shown, be deemed to include all lands up to the outer wall of the premises abutting on the street, or, where a street alignment has been fixed and the area within such alignment has been acquired by the Corporation and the alignment has been demarcated or is capable of being demarcated, up to such alignment;

(26) "regulation" means a regulation made by the Corporation under this Act;

(27) "rules" means rules made by the State Government under this Act;

(28) "slaughter-house" means any place used for the slaughter of cattle, sheep, goats, kids or pigs for the purpose of selling the flesh thereof as meat;

(29) "street alignment" means the line dividing the land comprised in and forming part of a street from the adjoining land;

(30) "year" means a financial year beginning on the first day of April.

279

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter 11.—The Municipal Authorities.—Sections 3-5.)

PART II

Constitution and Government. The

municipal

authorities.

The

Corporation.

Constitution

of the

Corporation.

CHAPTER II

The Municipal Authorities.

3. The following shall be the municipal authorities for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of the Act, namely:—

(a) the Corporation,

(b) the Mayor-in-Council, and

4. (I) With effect from such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint, there shall be a Corporation charged with the municipal government of Howrah, to be known as the Howrah Municipal Corporation.

(2) The Corporation shall be a body corporate with perpetual succes- sion and a common seal, and may by its name sue and be sued.

(3) All properties, along with all rights therein of whatever nature, used, enjoyed or possessed by the Commissioners of the Howrah Municipality constituted under the Bengal Municipal Act, 1932, or by any Gram Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti constituted under the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973, as the case may be, included within Howrah immediately before the date of constitution of the Corporation, shall, on and from that date vest in the Corporation.

(4) All rights, liabilities and obligations of the Commissioners and the Gram Panchayats or Panchayat Samitis referred to in sub-section (3) subsisting immediately before the date of constitution of the Corporation, in relation to any matter provided for in this Act, shall be enforceable by or against the Corporation.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Corporation shall be entitled to acquire, hold and dispose of property.

5. (1) The Corporation shall consist of the following members, namely:—

(a) fifty elected Councillors,

(b) two Councillors of whom—

(i) one shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority, constituted under the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 1972, ex officio, and

Ben. Act XV

of 1932.

West Ben.

Act XLI of

1973.

West Ben. Act XI of

1972.

280

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Pan IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter IL—The Municipal Authorities.—Sections 6, 7.)

West Ben.

Act XIV of

1956.

(ii) the other shall be the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Improvement of Howrah, constituted under the Howrah Improvement Act, 1956, ex officio, and

(2) The fifty Councillors referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall be elected by the constituencies, each constituency electing one Councillor, and for this purpose each ward of the Corporation described in Schedule II shall constitute a constituency.

(3) The three Aldermen referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall be elected in such manner as may be prescribed.

6. (1) There shall be a Mayor-in-Council consisting of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and such number of other elected members of the Corporation, not exceeding five, as the State Government may from time to time determine.

(2) The Deputy Mayor and other elected members referred to in sub-section (1) shall be nominated by the Mayor as soon as possible after he assumes office.

(3) Any casual vacancy in the office of the Deputy Mayor or other member referred to in sub-section (1) by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise shall be filled up by the Mayor:

Provided that no act or proceedings of the Mayor-in-Council shall be called in question or shall become invalid merely by reason of any vacancy in the office of the Deputy Mayor or other members referred to in sub-section (1).

(4) The manner of transaction of business of the Mayor-in-Council shall be such as may be determined by the Corporation by regulation.

(5) The Mayor-in-Council shall be collectively responsible to the Corporation.

Constitution

of Mayor-in-

Council.

7. A member of the Mayor-in-Council other than the Mayor shall Term of hold office from the date of his nomination to the Mayor-in-Council office of the member of until— the Mayor-

in-Council.

(a) he ceases to be a member of the Corporation, or

(b) he resigns his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Mayor in which case the resignation shall take effect from he date of its acceptance, or

281

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 1L—Constitution and Government—Chapter IL—The Municipal Authorities.—Sections 8, 9.)

(d) the Mayor ceases to hold office, or

(e) a newly elected Mayor in the event of the death of a Mayor enters upon his office.

Election of

Mayor and

Chairman.

Term of

office of

Mayor or

Chairman.

8. The elected members of the Corporation shall elect from amongst themselves,—

(a) at the first meeting of the Corporation after a general election,—(i) one member to be the Mayor, and (ii) one member to be the Chairman, and

(b) so often as a vacancy in the office of the Mayor or the Chairman, as the case may be, occurs by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise and within one month of the occurrence of such vacancy, one member to be the Mayor or the Chairman, as the case may be,

who shall assume office forthwith after taking such oath of secrecy as may be prescribed.

9. (1) A Mayor or a Chairman, as the case may be,—

(a) shall cease to hold office as such forthwith if he ceases to be a member of the Corporation;

(b) may, at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Corpora- tion, resign his office and such resignation shall take effect from such date as may be specified in the notice or, if no such date is specified, from the date of its receipt by the Corporation;

(c) may be removed from office by a resolution carried by a majority of the total number of elected members of the Corporation at a special meeting of the Corporation called for this purpose upon a requisition made in writing by not less than one-third of the elected members of the Corporation:

Provided that no such resolution shall be moved before the expiry of six months from the date of assumption of office by a Mayor or a Chairman, as the case may be:

Provided further that if such resolution is not carried by a majority of the total number of elected members of the Corporation, no further resolution for the removal of the Mayor or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall be moved before the expiry of a period of six months from the date on which the former resolution was moved.

282

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter IL—The Municipal Authorities.—Section 10.)

(2) Notwithstanding the povisions of sub-section (1), except when an order of supersession has been made under section 53, the Mayor or the Chairman, as the case may be, whose office becomes vacant by reason of the provisions of sub-section (1), shall continue to hold office as such until his successor, elected under the provisions of this Chapter, enters upon his office.

10. (1) The Corporation shall, at its first meeting in each year or as soon as may be at any meeting subsequent thereto, constitute a Municipal Accounts Committee.

(2) The Municipal Accounts Committee shall consist of—

(a) such number of persons, not being less than three and more than five, as the Corporation may determine, to be elected by the members of the Corporation from amongst themselves in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote by secret ballot, the members of the Mayor-in-Council not being eligible for election; and

(b) such number of persons, not being more than two and not being members or officers or other employees of the Corporation, having knowledge and experience in financial matters, as may be nominated by the Mayor-in-Council.

(3) The members of the Municipal Accounts Committee shall elect from amongst themselves one member to be its Chairman.

(4) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the members of the Municipal Accounts Committee shall hold office till a new committee is constituted.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and the regula- tions made thereunder, it shall be the duty of the Municipal Accounts Committee—

(a) to examine the accounts of the Corporation showing the appropriation of sums granted by the Corporation for its expenditure and the annual financial accounts of the Corporation;

(b) to examine and scrutinise the report on the accounts of the Corporation by the auditors appointed under section 77 and to satisfy itself that the monies shown in the accounts as having been disbursed were available for, and applicable to, the services or purposes to which they have been applied and that the expenditure was incurred in accordance with the authority governing the same;

Municipal

Accounts

Committee.

283

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. Borough

Committee.

[West Ben. Act

(Part H.—Constitution and Government—Chapter IL—The Municipal Authorities.—Section 11.)

(d) to consider the report of the auditor in cases where the Corporation requires him to conduct a special audit of any receipt or expenditure of the Corporation or to examine the accounts of stores and stocks of the Corporation; and

(e) to discharge such other functions as may be prescribed.

(6) The Municipal Accounts Committee may call for any book or document relating to the accounts of the Corporation under examina- tion and may send for such officers of the Corporation as it may consider necessary for explaining any matter in connection with such examination.

(7) The manner of transaction of business of the Municipal Accounts Committee shall be such as may be determined by the Corporation by regulations:

Provided that the persons nominated under clause (b) of sub- section (2) shall have no right of voting at the meeting of the Municipal Accounts Committee.

11. (1) The Corporation shall, at its first meeting after the election of members thereto or as soon as may be thereafter, group the wards of the Corporation mentioned in Schedule II into five boroughs so that each borough consists of ten contiguous wards, and constitute a Borough Committee for each borough.

(2) Each Borough Committee shall consist of the Councillors, other than the members of the Mayor-in-Council, elected from the wards constituting the Borough.

(3) A member of the Borough Committee representing a constituent ward shall hold office till he ceases to be the Councillor representing such ward.

(4) The members of each Borough Committee shall elect from amongst themselves one member to be its Chairman.

(5) The Chairman may at any time resign his office by giving notice in writing to the Mayor and the resignation shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the Mayor.

(6) A Borough Committee shall, subject to the general supervision and control of the Mayor-in-Council, discharge, within the local limits of the borough, the functions of the Corporation relating to collection and removal of garbage, house connections for water supply and sewerage, removal of accumulated water on streets and public places due to rain or

284

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IL—Constitution and Government. Chapter1L—The Municipal Authorities.—Section 12.—Chapter 111—A. Officers and other employees of the Corporation.—Section 13.) any other causes, health immunization services, improvement of bustee and such other functions as the Corporation may require it to discharge or as may be specified by regulations, and the officers and employees of the Corporation working within the local limits of the borough shall carry out the directions of the Borough Committee given in this behalf.

(7) The manner of transaction of business of the Borough Committee shall be such as may be determined by the Corporation by regulations.

12. The Mayor, the Chairman, the Deputy Mayor, the members of the Mayor-in-Council and the members of the Committee constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall be given such remuneration and facilities as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER III

A. Officers and other employees of the Corporation.

13. (1) The Corporation shall have the following officers, namely:—

(a) the Commissioner,

(b) the Controller of Finances,

(d) the Chief Engineer,

(e) the Chief Architect,

(f) the Health Officer, and

(g) the Secretary.

(2) The Commissioner, the Controller of Finance and the Chief Auditor shall be appointed—

(a) by the State Government in consultation with the Mayor-in- Council, by notification, from amongst persons who are or have been in the service of the Government, or

(b) if so directed by the State Government, by the Mayor-in- Council in consultation with the State Public Service Commission:

Remunera-

tion and

facilities of

Mayor,

Chairman,

Deputy

Mayor,

members of

the Mayor-

in-Council

and

members of

Committees.

Officers of

the

Corporation.

285

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Pan IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter !IL—A. Officers and other employees of the Corporation.—Section 14.) Provided that the appointment of officers under clause (a) shall be on such terms and conditions and for such period, not exceeding five years in the first instance, as the State Government may determine:

Provided further that the State Government may, in consultation with the Mayor-in-Council, extend the period from time to time, so, however, that the total period of extension does not exceed five years.

(3) The other officers referred to in clauses (d), (e), (f) and (g) of sub- section (I) shall be appointed by the Mayor-in-Council in consultation with the State Public Service Commission.

(4) The method of, and the qualifications required for, recruitment, and the terms and conditions of service including discipline, control and conduct, of the officers appointed by the Mayor-in-Council shall be such as may be prescribed.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, the State Government may, at any time in the case of any officer appointed under clause (a) of sub-section (2) as the Commissioner or as the Controller of Finances or as the Chief Auditor, terminate his appointment as such:

Provided that if, in the case of any such officer, the Mayor-in-Council so decides, the State Government shall terminate the appointment of such officer.

Salary and

other

conditions of

service of

Commis-

sioner and

other

officers

appointed by

the State

Government.

14. (1) The Commissioner, the Controller of Finances and the Chief Auditor shall be paid out of the Municipal Fund such salaries and allowances as may, from time to time, be determined by the State Government.

(2) If any of the officers referred to in sub-section (1) is in the service of Government, the Corporation shall make such contribution towards his passages, leave allowances, pension and provident fund as may be required by or under the conditions of his service under Government or the terms and conditions of his service under the Corporation, as the case may be, to be paid by or for him,

(3) If any of the officers referred to in sub-section (1) is not an officer in the service of Government, his leave allowances, retirement benefits and contribution to provident fund shall be such as may be prescribed:

Provided that—

(a) the amount of leave and leave allowances or retirement benefits shall in no case, except with the special sanction of the State Government, exceed the amount admissible to Government servants of equivalent rank; and

286

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter 111.—A. Officers and other employees of the Corporation.—Sections 5-17.)

(b) the conditions of grant of such leave and the conditions or retirement shall in no case, except with the special sanction of the State Government, be more favourable than those for the time being applicable to such Government servants.

15. If any vacancy occurs in the office of any of the officers referred Casual vacancies in to in clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 13 by reason of death, the office of resignation, removal or otherwise, the State Government may appoint Commis- another person to officiate in his place for a period not exceeding six sinner, Controller of months.

Finances and Chief

Auditor.

16. (1) The posts of officers and employees of the Corporation, other Establish- than

m of

those referred to in clauses (a) to (g) of sub-section (1) of section 13, Corporathe

tion.

shall constitute the establishment of the Corporation.

(2) The Corporation shall, by regulation, classify the posts of officers and employees constituting the establishment of the Corporation into such categories as it may consider necessary and shall maintain a schedule of posts indicating the designation, grade and number of sanctioned posts within such category.

(3) The Mayor-in-Council shall consider any proposal for revision in the Schedule of posts and place the same with its recommendation, if any, before the Corporation for approval before the presentation of the budget estimate to the Corporation by the Mayor:

Provided that no upward revision of the size of the establishment of the Corporation shall be made without the prior sanction of the State Government if the number of posts to be created in a year is more than one per cent. of the total number of posts comprised in the establishment:

Provided further that no post carrying a monthly salary of more than one thousand rupees or a salary rising by periodical increments to more than one thousand rupees shall be created without the sanction of the State Government.

17. (1) The method of, and the qualifications required for, recruitment to posts of different categories constituting the establishment of the Corporation shall be such as may be prescribed.

(2) Subject to provisions of this Act, appointment to all the posts of officers and employees constituting the establishment of the Corporation shall be made by the Commissioner with the approval of the Mayor-in- Council.

Appoint-

ment.

287

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Pan IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter 111.—A. Officers and other employees of the Corporation.—Section 18.—B. Municipal Service Commission.—Sections 19, 20.) Terms and

conditions of

service of

officers and

employees.

18. The Corporation may, by regulation, provide for the terms and conditions of service including discipline, control and conduct of officers and other employees constituting the establishment of the Corporation. B. Municipal Service Commission.

Constitution

of Municipal

Service

Commission.

Payment of

salaries and

allowances

of the

Chairman

and other

members,

officers and

employees

of the

Municipal

Service

Commis-

sion.

19. (1) The Corporation shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, constitute a Municipal Service Commission to be known as the Howrah Municipal Service Commission consisting of—

(a) a Chairman, and

(b) two other members.

(2) The Chairman and one of the other members shall be nominated by the Mayor-in-Council and one member shall be nominated by the State Government.

(3) The Municipal Service Commission shall perform such duties and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4) The State Government shall also prescribe—

(a) the term of office, salaries, allowances (if any) and conditions of service, of the Chairman and other members of the Municipal Service Commission,

(b) the number of officers and other employees of the Municipal Service Commission and their salaries and allowances, and

(c) the terms and conditions of service including discipline, control and conduct of officers and other employees of the Municipal Service Commission.

20. The salaries and allowances, if any, of the Chairman and other members of the Municipal Service Commission and the officers, and other employees thereof shall be paid from the Municipal Fund.

288

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part H.—Constitution and Government—Chapter 1111.—C. Powers and functions of the Municipal authorities and the Officers of the Corporation—Sections 21-24.) C. Powers and functions of the Municipal authorities and the Officers of the Corporation.

21. Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and the Powers of the regulations made thereunder, the municipal government of Howrah shall Corporation. vest in the Corporation.

22. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and the Powers and unctions regulations made thereunder, the executive power of the Corporation shall [he of

Mayo of

exercised by the Mayor-in-Council.

in-Council.

(2) All executive actions of the Mayor-in-Council shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Corporation.

23. (1) The Mayor shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions as are conferred on him by or under this Act.

(2) The Mayor shall preside over a meeting of the Mayor-in-Council which shall meet at such place and at such time as the Mayor may direct.

(3) The matters to be discussed at a meeting of the Mayor-in-Council shall be prepared under the direction of the Mayor and shall be circulated to the members of the Mayor-in-Council in such manner as the Mayor may determine.

(4) The Mayor shall allot among the members of the Mayor-in-Council such business of the Corporation and in such manner as the thinks fit.

(5) The Mayor may, if he is of opinion that immediate execution of any work (which ordinarily requires the approval of the Corporation or the Mayor-in-Council) is necessary, direct the execution of such work:

Provided that the Mayor shall report forthwith to the Corporation or the Mayor-in-Council, as the case may be, the action taken under this sub-section and the reasons therefor.

24. (1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Mayor by reason of his death, the Deputy Mayor shall act as Mayor until the date on which a new Mayor elected in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill such vacancy enters upon his office.

(2) When the Mayor is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, rt.. Deputy Mayor shall discharge his functions until the date on which the Mayor resumes his duties.

(3) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Deputy Mayor shall, while acting as, or discharging the functions of, the Mayor under this section, have all the powers of the Mayor.

Powers anti

functions of

the Mayor.

The Deputy

Mayor to act

as Mayor or

to discharge

his functions

during

casual

vacancy in

the office, or

during the

absence, of

Mayor.

289

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 11.—Constitution and Government—Chapter 111.—C. Powers and functions of the Municipal authorities and the Officers of the Corporation.—Sections 25-28.)

Powers and

functions of

the

Commis-

sioner.

Powers and

functions of

the

Secretary.

Financial

powers of

the

Corporation,

Mayor-in-

Council and

Commis-

sioner.

Delegation

of powers

and-

functions.

25. The Commissioner shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the supervision and control of the Mayor,—

(a) exercise the powers and perform the functions specifically conferred or imposed on him by or under this Act or by any other law for the time being in force;

(b) assign the duties, and exercise supervision and control over the acts and proceedings, of all officers and employees of the Corporation other than the Chief Auditor;

(c) shall be responsible for the custody of all records other than papers and documents connected with the proceedings of the Corporation and the Mayor-in-Council and the Accounts Committee and shall preserve the same in such manner and for such period as may be determined by regulations;

(d) shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual report on the working of the Corporation and such report shall be prepared as soon as may be after the first day of April each year and not later than such date as may be fixed by the State Government and shall be placed before the Corporation for consideration before the same is forwarded to the State Government.

26. (1) The Secretary shall be Secretary to the Corporation and the Accounts Committee and shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions as are conferred on him by or under this Act or as may be assigned to him by the Commissioner.

(2) The Secretary shall be responsible for the custody of all papers and documents connected with the proceedings of the Corporation and the Accounts Committee and shall preserve the same in such manner and for such period as may be determined by regulations.

27. The financial powers of the Corporation or the Mayor-in-Council or the Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed.

28. (1) The Corporation may by resolution delegate, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the resolution, any of its powers or functions to the Mayor-in-Council.

290

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 19801

(Part H.—Constitution and Government—Chapter 111—C. Powers and functions of the Municipal authorities and the Officers of the Corporation.—Section 29.—Chapter IV.—Election of Councillors and Aldermen.—Sections 30, 31.)

(2) The Mayor-in-Council may by order delegate, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, any of its powers or func- tions to the Mayor or to the Commissioner.

(3) Subject to such standing orders as may be made by the Mayor-in- Council in this behalf,—

(a) the Mayor may by order delegate, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, any of his powers or functions to the Deputy Mayor or to the Commissioner;

(b) the Commissioner may by order delegate, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, any of his powers or functions to any other officer or any employee of the Corporation; and

(c) any officer of the Corporation other than the Commissioner may by order delegate, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order, any of his powers or functions to any other officer subordinate to him.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Mayor-in- Council, the Mayor, the Commissioner, or the other Officer referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (3) shall not delegate—

(a) any of its or his powers or functions delegated to it or him under this section, or

(b) such of its or his powers or functions as may be prescribed.

29. If any doubt arises as to whether any particular power or function appertains to any municipal authority or the Commissioner, the Mayor shall refer the matter to the State Government and the decision thereon of the State Government shall be final.

CHAFFER IV

Election of Councillors and Aldermen.

30. There shall be an electoral roll for Howrah showing the names of persons qualified to vote and the electoral roll shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

31. (1) A person shall be disqualified for registration in the electoral roll if he—

(a) is not a citizen of India, or

(b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or

Doubts as to

powers or

functions of

Municipal

authorities.

Electoral roll

for Howrah.

Disqualifica-

tion for'

registration

in electoral

roll.

291

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 11.—Constitution and Government—Chapter IV—Election of Councillors and Aldermen—Sections 32-35.)

(c) is for the time being disqualified from voting under the provisions of this Act or any other law relating to corrupt practices and other offences in connection with elections.

(2) The name of any person who becomes so disqualified after registration shall forthwith be struck off the electoral roll:

Provided that the name of any person struck off by reason of a disqualification under clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall forthwith be restored if such disqualification is, during the period such roll is in force, removed under any law authorising such removal.

Bar of

registration

for more

than once.

Authority

for

preparation

and revision

of electoral

roll.

Conditions

for

registration.

Meaning of

ordinarily

resident.

32. No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for more than one constituency or more than once in the electoral roll of any constituency.

33. (1) The State Government shall, by notification, and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, appoint an election authority and such number of assistant election authorities as may be necessary for the preparation, publication, revision, correction and maintenance of the electoral roll and for holding of election under this Act.

(2) The election authority may appoint such staff for such period and on such pay as the State Government may sanction.

(3) The salary of the election authority, the assistant election authorities and the staff appointed under sub-section (2) and all other expenses relating to the establishment of such authority or authorities shall be paid out of the Municipal Fund.

34. Subject to other provisions of this Act, every person, who—

(a) is not less than eighteen years of age on the qualifying date, and

(b) is ordinarily resident in Howrah, shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll of Howrah. Explanation.—For the purposes of this Chapter, the expression

"qualifying date", in relation to the preparation or revision of an electoral roll, shall mean the first day of such month of the year in which it is so prepared or revised as may be specified by the State Government by notification.

35. (1) A person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in Howrah if he generally resides in Howrah for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty-five days in a period of twelve months preceding the qualifying date:

292

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter IV—Election of Councillors and Aldermen.—Section 36) Provided that—

(a) a person shall not be deemed to be ordinarily resident in Howrah on the ground only that he owns, or is in possession of, a dwelling house therein; or

(b) a person, who is a patient in any establishment maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from mental diseases or who is detained in prison or other legal custody at any place, shall not by reason thereof be deemed to be ordinarily resident therein. Explanation.—A person shall be deemed to "reside" in any dwelling house or hut which or some portion of which he sometimes, although not uniterruptedly uses as a sleeping apartment, and sue' person shall not be deemed to have ceased to "reside" therein merely because he is absent from it or has elsewhere another dwelling house or hut in which he resides, if there is the liberty of returning to it or if there is no abandonment of the intention of returning to it at any time.

(2) If in any case a question arises as to whether a person is ordinarily resident in Howrah at any relevant time the question shall be determined with reference to all the facts of the case and to such rules as may be made in this behalf by the State Government.

36. (1) The electoral roll for Howrah shall be prepared by the election authority in the prescribed manner by reference to the qualifying date and shall come into force immediately upon its final publication in accordance with the rules made by the State Government.

(2) The electoral roll shall be prepared separately , foreach constituency there being several parts for different areas within each constituency.

(3) The electoral roll shall, unless otherwise directed by the State Government for reasons to be recorded in writing, be revised—

(i) before each general election to the Corporation, and

(ii) before each bye-election to fill a casual vacancy.

(4) If the election authority, on an application made to it or of its own motion, is satisfied after such enquiry as it thinks fit that any entry in the electoral roll is or has been erroneous or defective in any particular, the election authority shall, subject to such general or special directions, if any, as may be given by the State Government in this behalf, correct the entry.

(5) Every person whose name appears in the electoral roll for any constituency shall, so long as such roll remains in force, be entitled, subject to the provisions of this Act, to vote at an election from the said constituency:

Preparation,

revision and

correction of

electoral

roll.

293

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IL—Constitution and Government—Chapter 1V1—Election of Councillors and Aldermen.—Sections 37-40.) Provided that no such person shall vote at an election of Councillors, if he—

(a) has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind, or

(b) has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or

(c) has been convicted of an offence under Chapter IXA of the Indian Penal Code punishable with imprisonment, or has been found in a proceeding by the Court to have committed a corrupt practice within the meaning of this Act. Appeal.

37. An appeal by any person aggrieved by any entry in, or omission from, the electoral roll or by any order or decision of the election authority shall, in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed, lie to such appeallate authority as the State Government may, by notification, appoint. Bar to

jurisdiction

of civil

courts.

General

disqualifica-

tions for

being

elected

Councillor

Alderman.

Term of

office of

Councillors

and

Aldermen.

38. No civil court shall have jurisdiction—

(a) to entertain or adjudicate upon any question whether any person is or is not entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for Howrah, or

(b) to question the legality of any action taken by or on behalf of the election authority under this Act.

39. A person shall not be qualified for being elected a Councillor or Alderman, if he—

(a) is not entitled to vote at the election for any constituency of the Corporation; or

(b) is under twenty-one years of age; or

(d) has any share or interest, direct or indirect, in any contract or employment with, by or on behalf of, the Corporation; or

(e) has not paid any sum certified by the auditors to be due from him.

40. (1) A Councillor or an Alderman shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his election as Councillor or Alderman, as the case may be:

Provided that a Councillor or an Alderman elected against a casual vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of office of the Councillor or the Alderman, as the case may be, whose place he fills.

(2) A Councillor or an Alderman may, at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Chairman, resign his office and such resignation shall take effect from such date as may be specified, in the notice, or if no such date is specified, from the date of its receipt by the Chairman.

294

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part H.—Constitution and Government—Chapter 1V—Election of Councillors and Aldermen.—Sections 41, 42.—Chapter V.— Conduct of Business.—Sections 43-45.)

41. A person shall not be qualified for being elected as an Alderman if he was a candidate for being elected as a Councillor in a general election immediately preceding the election of Aldermen.

42. The procedure for holding elections of the Councillors and Aldermen shall be such as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER V

Conduct of Business.

43. (1) The Chairman shall at the beginning of each calendar year nominate from amongst the elected members of the Corporation a panel of not more than three presiding officers and specify a sequence in which any one of them may preside over the meetings of the Corporation in the absence of the Chairman.

(2) A member nominated under sub-section (1) shall hold office until a new panel of presiding officers in nominated.

44. (1) The Corporation shall meet not less than once in every month for the transaction of business.

(2) The Chairman may, whenever he thinks fit, and shall, upon a requisition in writing by not less than ten elected members of the Corporation, convene a meeting of the Corporation.

(3) Any meeting may be adjourned until the next or any subsequent date, and an adjourned meeting may be further adjourned in the like manner.

45. (1) The first meeting of the Corporation after a general election shall be held as early as possible after the publication of the results of the election of Aldermen under the rules made under this Act and shall be convened by the Secretary.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act the first meeting of the Corporation for the election of the Mayor and the Chairman shall be presided over by a member to be nominated by the State Government in this behalf:

Provided that such member shall not himself be a candidate for such election.

Bar to

election as

Alderman.

Procedure

for holding

elections.

Nomination

of a panel of

presiding

officers.

Meetings.

First

meeting of

the

Corporation

after general

election.

295

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Notice of

meeting and

list of

business.

Quorum.

(Part 1L—Constitution and Government.—Chapter V.— Conduct of Business.—Sections 46, 47.)

(3) In the case of equality of votes obtained by the candidates for election as Mayor or Chairman, the election shall be made by lot to be drawn in presence of the candidates in such manner as Presiding Officer may determine.

(4) The Presiding Officer shall report to the State Government the names of the persons elected as Mayor or Chairman and the State Government shall publish such names in the Official Gazette.

46. A list of the business to be transacted at every meeting of the Corporation except at an adjourned meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to the registered address. of each member of the Corporation at least seventy-two hours before the time fixed for such meeting; and no business shall be brought before, or transacted at, any meeting other than the business of which notice has been so given:

Provided that any member of the Corporation may send or deliver to the Secretary notice of any resolution so as to reach him at least seventy- two hours before the time fixed for the meeting and the Secretary shall with all possible despatch take steps to circulate such resolution to every member of the Corporation in such manner as he may think fit. Explanation.—In this section, "registered address" means the address for the time being entered in the register of addresses of members of the Corporation to be maintained by the Secretary.

47. (1) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Corporation shall be one-forth of the total number of members of the Corporation.

(2) If at any time during a meeting of the Corporation there is no quorum it shall be the duty of the Chairman or the person presiding over such meeting either to adjourn the meeting or to suspend it till there is a quorum.

(3) Where a meeting has been adjourned under sub-section (2), the business which would have been brought before such meeting if there had been a quorum, shall be brought before and may be transacted at an adjourned meeting, whether there is a quorum or not.

(4) All matters required to be decided by the Corporation at a meeting shall, save as otherwise provided in this Act, be determined by a majority of the members of the Corporation present and voting at such meeting.

296

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.

LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IL—Constitution and Government.—Chapter V.— Conduct of Business.—Sections 48-52.)

48. (1) The Chairman or, in his absence, a member of the panel of Presiding Officers nominated under section 43 shall preside at every meeting of the Corporation:

Provided that when a meeting is held to consider a motion for the removal of the Chairman, the Chairman shall not preside at such meeting.

(2) In the absence of the Chairman and all members of the panel of the Presiding Officers as aforesaid from a meeting of the Corporation, the elected members present shall choose from amongst themselves one member to preside over the meeting.

(3) The Chairman or the person presiding over a meeting of the Corporation shall have and exercise only a casting vote in all cases of equality of votes.

49. (1) Any Councillor or Alderman may give notice of raising discussion on a matter of urgent public importance to the Secretary specifying the matter to be raised.

(2) Such notice supported by the signature of at least two other elected members shall reach the Secretary at least seventy-two hours before the date on which such discussion is sought and the Secretary shall promptly place it before the Chairman or, in his absence, any member or the panel of Presiding Officers and circulate the same among the members in such manner as he may think fit.

50. A Councillor or an Alderman may, in such manner as may be prescribed, ask the Mayor-in-Council questions on any matter relating to the administration of the Corporation on the municipal government of Howrah and all such questions shall be answered by the Mayor or any other member of Mayor-in-Council.

51. (1) Any Councillor or Alderman may ask for a statement from the Mayor-in-Council on an urgent matter relating to the administration of the Corporation on the municipal government of Howrah by giving a notice to the Secretary at least one hour before the commencement of the sitting

on any day.

(2) The Mayor or a member of the Mayor-in-Council may accordingly make a brief statement on the same day or fix a date for the same.

52. Minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Corporation shall be circulated to all the members of the Corporation and shall at all reasonable times be available at the office of the Corporation for inspection

by any member of the Corporation, free of cost, and by any other persons on payment of such fee as the Corporation may determine. Presiding

officer of a

meeting of

the

Corporation.

Discussion

on urgent

public

matters.

Questions on

matters

relating to

administra-

tion.

Statements

on 'natters

relating to

administra-

tion.

Circulation

of minutes

and

inspection of

minutes and

reports of

proceedings.

297

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IL. Constitutionand Government—Chapter VL— ControL—Sections 53, 54.)

CHAPTER VI

Control. Power of the State

Government to supersede the

Corporation.

53. (1) If in the opinion of the State Government, the Corporation has shown its incompetence, or has persistently made default, in the performance of the duties or in the exercise of the functions imposed on it by or under this Act or any other law, or has exceeded or abused its powers, the State Government may, by an order published, with the reasons for making it, in the Official Gazette, declare the Corporation to be incompetent, or in default, or to have exceeded or abused its powers, as the case may be, and supersede it, either entirely or in respect of such functions as may be specified in the order, for such period not exceeding twelve months, as may be specified in the order:

Provided that no such order shall be made by the State Government unless—

(a) a notice has been given to the Corporation specifying therein a period within which the Corporation may submit representation, if any, against the proposed order; and

(b) such representation has been considered by the State Government.

(2) The State Government may, if it considers necessary so to do, by order extend the period of supersession so, however, that the total period of supersession does not exceed eighteen months.

Conse-

54. (I) With effect from the date of an order made under section quences of

superses- 53,—

non.

(a) all members of the Corporation, the Mayor-in-Council and any Committee of the Corporation constituted under this Act shall vacate their respective offices, except in a case where the supersession is partial, and

(b) all the powers and the duties, which under the provisions of this Act or any rule, regulation or by-law made thereunder may be exercised or performed by the Corporation or the Mayor-in-Council or any Committee of the Corporation or the Mayor of such other powers and duties as may be specified in the order, shall be exercised or performed, subject to the direction issued by the State Government, by such person or persons as the State Government may appoint in this behalf:

298

The Howrah MUnicipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 11L—Finance.—Chapter VII. TheMunicipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Section 55.) Provided that when the State Government appoint more than one person to exercise any powers and perform any duties, it may, by order, allocate such powers and duties among the persons so appointed in such manner as it thinks fit:

Provided further that the State Government shall fix the remuneration of such person or persons and may direct that such remuneration shall in each case be paid out of the Municipal Fund.

(2) For the avoidance of doubts it is hereby declared that an order of supersession made under section 53 shall not effect or imply in any way the dissolution of the Corporation as a body corporate.

PART III

Finance.

CHAPTER VII

The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit

55. (1) There shall be a Municipal Fund held by the Corporation in Municipal trust for the purposes of this Act and all moneys realised or realisable under Fund. this Act and all moneys otherwise received by the Corporation shall be credited to this fund.

(2) The Municipal Fund shall be maintained in the following four accounts, namely:—

(a) the Water-supply, Sewerage and Drainage Account,

(b) the Road Development and Maintenance Account,

(d) the General Account.

(3) All moneys payable to the Municipal Fund in the different accounts referred to in sub-section (2) shall forthwith be paid into the State Bank of India or in any other bank approved by the State Government in this behalf, to the credit of the accounts which shall respectively be styled as—

(a) the Water-supply, Sewerage and Drainage Account of the Municipal Fund of the Howrah Municipal Corporation,

(b) the Road Development and Maintenance Account of the Municipal Fund of the Howrah Municipal Corporation,

(d) the General Account of the Municipal Fund of the Howrah Municipal Corporation.

299

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.

[West Ben. Act

(Part 11L—Finance.--Chapter V11. TheMunicipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 56-60.) Application

of Municipal

Fund.

Operation of

bank

accounts.

Payment not

to be made

out of the

Municipal

Fund unless

covered by a

budget

grant.

Investment

of surplus

moneys.

Annual

Budget.

56. Subject to the provisions of section 55, the moneys credited from time to time to the Municipal Fund shall be applied for payment of all sums, charges and costs necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act and the rules and the regulations made thereunder or for payment of all sums payable out of the Municipal Fund under any other enactment for the time being in force.

57. Subject to the other provisions of this Act, payment from the Municipal Fund shall be made in such manner as may be determined by regulations, and the accounts referred to in section 55 shall be operated by such officers of the Corporation as may be authorised by the Corporation by regulations.

58. No payment of any sum out of the Municipal Fund shall be made unless the expenditure is covered by a current budget grant and a sufficient balance of such budget grant is available notwithstanding any reduction or transfer thereof under the provisions of this Act.

59. Surplus moneys standing at the credit of any of the accounts of the Municipal Fund which cannot, immediately or at an early date, be applied for the purposes of this Act by the Corporation may, in accordance with such rules as may be made by the State Government in this behalf, be transferred by the Corporation either in whole or in part to any other account of the Municipal Fund:

Provided that no such money shall be transferred permanently from any one account to any other account of the Municipal Fund without the previous approval of the State Government.

60. (1) The Corporation shall, on or before the 2nd day of March in each year, adopt for the ensuing year a budget estimate of the income and the expenditure of the Corporation to be received and incurred on account of the municipal government of Howrah.

(2) The budget estimate shall separately state the income and the expenditure of the Corporation to be received and incurred in terms of the following accounts, namely:—

(a) the Water-supply, Sewerage and Drainage Account,

(b) the Road Development and Maintenance Account,

(d) the General Account.

300

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 111.—Finance.—Chapter VH.—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Section 61.)

(3) The budget estimate shall state the rates at which various taxes, cesses and fees shall be levied by the Corporation in the year next following.

(4) The budget estimates shall state the amount of money to be raised by the Corporation as loan during the year next following.

(5) The Mayor shall present the budget estimate to the Corpora- tion on the 15th day of February in each year or as soon as possible thereafter.

(6) The budget estimate shall be prepared, presented and adopted in such form and in such manner, and shall provide for such matters, as may be determined by regulations.

(7) The Corporation may from time to time revise the budget estimate of a year during the course of that year, in due consideration of the recommendation of the Mayor-in-Council in that behalf.

61. The Corporation may, by a resolution passed at a meeting, from time to time raise a loan, by the issue of debentures or otherwise on the security of the consolidated rate or of all or any of the taxes, fees and dues under this Act, or on the guarantee by the State Government, of any sum of money which may be required—

(a) for the construction of works under this Act, or

(b) for the acquisition of land or buildings for the purposes of this Act, or

(d) to repay a loan raised under this Act, or

(e) for the acquisition of a public utility concern which renders such services as the Corporation is authorised to render under this Act, or

(f) for the purchase of vehicles, locomotive engines, boilers, plants and machineries necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act, or

(g) for any other purpose for which the Corporation is authorised to borrow by or under this Act or any other law in force for the time being:

Provided that no loan shall be raised without the previous sanction of the State Government and that terms and conditions (including the period) of repayment of the loan shall be subject to the approval of the State Government.

Power of the

Corporation

to raise loan.

301

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part Ill—Finance.—Chapter VII. TheMunicipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 62-66.) Limit to the

power to

raise loan.

Power of the

Corporation

to open a

credit

account with

a bank.

Repayment

of loan.

Form and

effect of

debentures.

Sinking

Funds.

62. Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, the power of the Corporation to raise a loan shall be so limited that the sums payable under this Act during any year for interest and for the maintenance of Sinking Funds established under this Act shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the annual value of land and buildings as determined under this Act.

63. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 61, whenever the raising of any loan has been sanctioned by the State Government under that section the Corporation may, instead of raising such loan or any part thereof from the public, take credit, on such terms as may be approved by the State Government, from any bank on a cash account to be kept in the name of the Howrah Municipal Corporation Cash Account to the extent of such loan or any part thereof and, with the sanction of State Government, may grant mortgages of all or any of the properties vested in the Corporation by way of securing the repayment of the amount of such credit or of the sum advanced from time to time on such cash account with interest.

64. Every loan raised by the Corporation under section 61 shall be repaid within the period approved under that section and by such of the following methods as may be approved by the State Government, namely:—

(a) from a Sinking Fund established under section 66 in respect of such loan, or

(b) partly from such Sinking Fund and partly from the loan raised for the purpose under section 61.

65. All debentures issued under this Chapter shall be in such form, and shall be transferable in such manner, as the Corporation may by regulation determine, and the right to sue in respect of the moneys secured by any of such debentures shall vest in the holders thereof for the time being without any preference by reason of some such debentures being prior in date to others.

66. (1) The Corporation shall establish a separate Sinking Fund in respect of each loan raised under section 61 and shall pay into such fund every six months a sum so calculated that if regularly paid such sum together with the compound interest accrued thereon would be sufficient, after payment of all expenses, to pay off the loan within the period approved by the State Government under the proviso to section 61.

302

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 11L—Finance.—Chapter VH.—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 67-69.)

(2) The rate of interest at which the sum referred to in sub-section

(1) shall be calculated shall be such as may be prescribed.

67. (1) All moneys paid into a Sinking Fund shall as soon as possible be invested by the Corporation in—

(a) Government securities, or

(b) securities guaranteed by the Central or any State Government, or

(d) debentures issued by the Trustees for the Improvement of Howrah, or

(e) any public securities approved by the State Government and shall be held by the Corporation for the purpose of repaying from time to time the loans raised by it by the issue of debentures or otherwise.

(2) All dividends and other sums received in respect of any such investment shall, as soon as possible, be paid into the appropriate Sinking Fund and invested in the manner laid down in sub-section (I).

(3) Moneys paid into two or more Sinking Funds may, at the discretion of the Corporation, be invested together as a common fund and it shall not be necessary for the Corporation to allocate the securities held in such investments among the several Sinking Funds.

(4) Any investment made under this section may from time to time, subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), be varied or transposed. Investment

of the

amount of

the Sinking

Fund.

68. Until any loan is wholly repaid, the Corporation shall not apply Application of the any Sinking Fund established under this Act in respect of such loan for Sinking any purpose other than the purpose of repayment of such loan. Funds.

69. (1) The Commissioner shall, at the end of each year, prepare Statement of a statement showing—

investments.

(a) the amount which has been invested during the year under section 67,

(b) the date of the last investment made during the year,

(d) the aggregate amount which has, up to the date of the statement, been applied for the purpose of repayment of loan under section 68.

(2) Every such statement shall be laid before a meeting of the Corporation and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

303

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Annual

examination

of Sinking

Funds.

Power of the

Corporation

to borrow

money from

the State

Government.

(Part III—Finance.--Chapter VIL—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 70, 71.)

70. (1) All Sinking Funds established under this Act shall be subject to annual examination by the auditors appointed under section 77, who shall ascertain whether the cash and the value of the securities belonging thereto are equal to the amount which should be at the credit of such funds had investments under section 67 been regularly made and had the interest accruing on account of such investments been regularly obtained.

(2) The amount which should be at the credit of a Sinking Fund shall be calculated on the basis of the sums credited to such fund under sub- section (1) of section 67.

(3) The value of securities belonging to a Sinking Fund shall be their current value, unless such securities become due for redemtion at par with or above their face value before maturity in which case their current value shall be taken as their redemption value, except in the case of debentures issued by the Corporation which shall always be valued at par with their face value, provided that the Corporation shall make good immediately any loss owing to the sale of such debentures for repayment of the loan raised under section 61.

(4) The Corporation shall forthwith pay into any Sinking Fund such amount as the auditors appointed under section 77 may certify to be deficit unless the State Government specially sanctions a gradual readjustment of such deficit in respect of such fund.

(5) If the cash and the value of the securities at the credit of any Sinking Fund are in excess of the amount which should be at its credit, the auditors appointed under section 77 shall certify the amount of such excess sum and the Corporation may thereupon transfer the excess sum to the Municipal Fund in the General Account.

(6) If any dispute arises as to the accuracy of any deficit or excess referred to in the certificate under sub-section (4) or sub-section (5), the Corporation may, after payment of such deficit or after transfer of such excess, as the case may be, refer the matter to the State Government whose decision thereon shall be final.

71. (1) The Corporation may borrow money from the State Government for carrying out of the purposes of this Act, other than those referred to in section 61, on such terms and conditions as the State Government may determine.

(2) If any money borrowed by the Corporation from the State Government before the commencement of this Act or under sub- section (1) is not repaid, or any interest due in respect thereof is not paid, according to the terms and conditions of such borrowing, the State Government may attach the Municipal Fund or any portion thereof.

304

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 11L—Finance.—Chapter va—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 72-75.)

(3) After such attachment no person other than an officer appointed in this behalf by the State Government shall in any way deal with the attached Fund or portion thereof. Such officer may do all acts in respect thereof which any municipal authority or an officer or employee of the Corporation might have done under this Act if such attachment had not taken place, and may apply such fund or portion thereof for payment of the arrear and the interest due in respect of such borrowing and of all expenses on account of the attachment and subsequent proceedings:

Provided that no such attachment shall defeat or prejudice any debt for which the fund attached was previously charged under any law in force for the time being and all such prior charges shall be paid out of the fund before any part thereof is applied for repayment of the borrowing under sub-section (I) any payment of interest accruing thereon.

72. If the Corporation fails to make any payment or to transfer any sum under sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) of section 70, the State Government may attach the Municipal Fund or any portion thereof and thereupon the provisions of section 71 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply.

Attachment

of Municipal

Fund for

securing

payment into

Sinking

Fund.

73. The accounts of all receipts and expenditure of the Corporation Accounts. shall be kept in such manner and in such form as the State Government may from time to time prescribe.

74. (1) The Chief Auditor shall conduct a monthly internal audit Audit of accounts of the accounts of the Corporation and shall report thereon to the the Chief by

Mayor-in-Council who shall cause an abstract of the receipts and Auditor. expenditure of the month last preceding to be published.

(2) The Chief Auditor shall also conduct from time to time such other audit of the accounts of the Corporation as the Mayor-in-Council may direct.

(3) For the purpose of audit of the accounts of the Corporation the Chief Auditor shall have access to all accounts of the Corporation and records and correspondences relating thereto, and the Commissioner shall forhtwith furnish to the Chief Auditor such explanation concerning any receipt or expenditure as he may call for.

75. (1) The Chief Auditor shall—

Report by the Chief

(a) report to the Mayor-in Council any material impropriety or Auditor. irregularity which he may at any time observe in the expenditure or in the recovery of moneys due to the Corporation or in the accounts of the Corporation;

305

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 111.—Finance.--Chapter va —The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 76, 77.)

(b) furnish to the Mayor-in-Council such information as it may from time to time require concerning the progress of the audit.

(2) The Mayor-in-Council shall cause to be laid before the Corpora- tion every report made to it by the Chief Auditor together with a statement of orders passed thereon by the Mayor-in-Council and there- upon the Corporation may take such action as it may deem fit.

(3) As soon as may be after the commencement of each financial year the Chief Auditor shall deliver to the Mayor-in-Council a report on the entire accounts - of the Corporation for the preceding year.

(4) The Secretary shall cause such report to be printed and circulated among the Councillors and the Aldermen.

(5) The Commissioner shall forward to the State Government as many copies of such report as may be required by the State Government together with a brief statement of action taken or proposed to be taken thereon.

Power of the 76. The Chief Auditor shall audit the accounts of the Corporation Chief

Auditor to with the assistance of officers and other employees subordinate to him call for and, for the purpose, may call for such vouchers, statements, returns vouchers,

etc. and explanations in relation to such accounts as he may think fit, and shall be competent to frame standing orders and to give directions on all matters relating to audit and particularly in respect of the method and the extent of audit and the raising and pursuing of objections.

Appoint-

ment of

Auditors.

77. (1) The accounts of the Corporation shall be audited from time to time by auditors appointed in that behalf by the State Government.

(2) The Commissioner shall submit accounts to the auditors as required by them:

Provided that the Commissioner shall not be bound to submit accounts of expenditure in connection with any anti-corruption work but shall, if so required by the auditors, furnish certificate under his signature of all such expenditure.

(3) The auditors so appointed may,—

(a) by written summons, require the production before them or before any officer subordinate to them of any document which they may consider necessary for the proper conduct of audit;

306

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 11L—Finance.—Chapter VII—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 78, 79.)

(b) by written summons, require any person accountable for, or having the custody or control of, any such document to appear in person before them or before any officer subordinate to them; and

(c) require any person so appearing before them or before any officer subordinate to them to make or sign a declaration with respect to such document or to answer any question or prepare and submit any statement.

(4) The provisions of sub-section (3) shall not apply to the accounts of expenditure incurred in connection with any anti-corruption work.

78. The auditors appointed under section 77 shall,—

(a) report to the Mayor-in-Council any material impropriety or irregularity which they may obs-rve in the expenditure, or in the recovery of moneys due to the Corporation, or in the accounts of the Corporation;

(b) report to the Mayor-in-Council any loss or waste of money or other property owned by or vested in the Corporation which has been caused by neglect or misconduct and may, if they think fit, report the names of the persons who in their opinion are directly or indirectly responsible for such loss or waste;

(c) furnish to the Mayor-in-Council such information as the Mayor-in-Council may from time to time require regarding the progress of audit;

(d) as soon as may be after the completion of audit, deliver to the Mayor-in-Council a report upon the accounts of the Corporation and submit a duplicate copy thereof to the Corporation;

(e) conduct a special audit, when so directed by the State Government or the Corporation, on any receipt or expenditure of the Corporation or examine any accounts of stores and stocks and submit a report upon the same to the Mayor-in- Council and the Corporation;

(f) submit to the State Government copies of all reports referred to in clauses (a), (b), (d) and (e).

79. The Mayor-in-Council shall forthwith remedy any defects or irregularities that may be pointed out by the auditors and shall report to the Corporation and the State Government the action taken by it:

Report and

information

to be

furnished by

auditors.

Mayor-in-

Council to

remedy

defects and

report to the

State

Government.

307

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 111—Finance.—Chapter VII. TheMunicipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 80, 81.) Provided that if there is a difference of opinion between the Mayor-in-Council and the auditors the Mayor-in-Council, or if the Mayor-in-Council does not remedy any defect or irregularity within a reasonable period the auditors shall refer the matter to the State Government within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, and it shall be within the competence of the State Government to pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit.

Reference of

reports to

Municipal

Accounts

Committee.

Powers of

the auditors

to disallow,

surcharge

and charge.

80. (1) The Corporation shall refer all reports received under section 78 to the Municipal Accounts Committee for their examination and report under section 10.

(2) The report of the Municipal Accounts Committee shall be discussed at a meeting of the Corporation for such decision as the Corporation may think fit:

Provided that if no report is received from the Municipal Accounts Committee, the Corporation shall be competent to discuss the auditors' reports under section 78 for such decision as it thinks fit.

(3) The Corporation shall publish the auditors' reports referred to in section 78 together with the reports of the Municipal Accounts Committee, if any, and the decision of the Corporation thereon in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.

81. (1) The auditors shall, after giving the person concerned an opportunity to submit an explanation and after considering such explanation, if any, disallow every item of accounts contrary to the provisions of this Act, and surcharge the amount of any illegal payment on the person making or authorising the making of such payment, and charge against any person responsible therefor the amount of any deficiency or loss incurred by the negligence or misconduct of such person or any amount which ought to have been, but is not brought into account by such person, and shall in every such case certify the amount due from such person.

(2) The auditors shall record the reasons for every disallowance, surcharge or charge under sub-section (I) and shall serve in the manner prescribed a certificate of the amount due under that sub-section, and a copy of such reasons, on the person against whom the certificate is made, and shall incorporate such cases of disallowance, surcharge or charge in their report to the Mayor-in-Council, the Corporation and the State Government under section 78.

308

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part M.—Finance.—Chapter VIL—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Sections 82-85.)

82. Any person from whom any sum has been certified by the Rights of a

auditors under section 81 to be due may, within one month after he has Cpp

ivCourt

received or has been served with the certificate, either— ^or State

to the

(a) apply to a Civil Court of competent jurisdiction to set aside Government. or modify such disallowance, surcharge or charge and upon such application the Court may, after taking such evidence as it considers necessary, confirm, set aside or modify the disallowance, surcharge or charge, and the certificate with such order as to costs as it may think proper, or

(b) appeal to the State Government and the State Government shall pass such orders as it thinks fit. The decisions of the State Government on such appeal shall be final.

83. Where an amount is certified under sub-section (1) of section 81 to be due from any person, such amount, or where such person proceeds under section 82, such amount as the Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may decide to be due from such person, shall be paid within three months from the date of certificate under sub-section (1) of section 81, or as the case may be, within such period not less than three months from the date of such decision as the Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may allow and in the case of default of payment, the amount shall be recoverable by the Commissioner as an amount decreed by the Court of the District Judge, Howrah.

84. (1) Any cost allowed by the Court under clause (a) of section 82 shall be paid out of the Municipal Fund within such period as the State Government may fix in this behalf.

(2) If the Corporation fails to pay such cost within the period fixed by the State Government under sub-section (1), the State Government may attach the Municipal Fund or any portion thereof and the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 71 shall, with all necessary modifications, be deemed to apply in respect of such attachment.

85. Where a person from whom an amount is certified to be due under sub-section (1) of section 81 is a member of the Corporation or of a committee thereof or is an officer or employee of the Corporation and where such person has not paid such amount within three months from the date of such certificate, or where an amount declared to be due from such person under clause (a) or clause (b) of section 82 has not been paid by such person within such period not less than three months Payment of

certified

amount.

Costs

payable out

of Municipal

Fund.

Effect of

non-

payment of

certified

amount.

309

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part 111—Finance.—Chapter VH—The Municipal Fund, Budget, Loans, Accounts and Audit—Section 86.—Part 1V—Taxation.—Chapter VHZ— A. Levy of Taxes and Fees.—Section. 87.

Power of the

State

Government

to make

rules.

from the date of such declaration as may be allowed to him under section 83, such person shall be deemed to have vacated his seat or to have been dismissed from the service of the Corporation, as the case may be, with effect from the date of an order to be made by the State Government in this behalf and shall not be eligible for re-election or reappointment, as the case may be, until the amount as aforesaid has been paid by him.

86. (1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Chapter.

(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:—

(a) the manner and the forms in which the accounts of the Corporation shall be kept under section 73;

(b) the time within which, and the manner in which, the matter referred to in the proviso to section 79 shall be referred to the State Government;

(c) the publication of the auditors' reports together with the report of the Municipal Accounts Committee under sub- section (3) of section 80;

(d) any other matter which may be or is required to be prescribed under the provisions of this Chapter.

PART IV

Taxation.

CHAPTER VIII

A. Levy of Taxes and Fees. Taxes and

fees to be

levied by the

Corporation.

87. (1) The Corporation shall, for the purposes of this Act, have the power to levy the following taxes and fees:—

(a) a consolidated rate on land and buildings,

(b) a tax on professions, trades and callings,

(d) a tax on carriages and animals,

(e) a toll on ferries and bridges,

31.0

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—B. Consolidated rate on lands and buildings and surcharge.—Section. 88.)

(f) a fee for grant of permission to erect a building,

(g) a fee on vessels moved within the limits of the Corporation at ghats or landing places constructed and maintained by the Corporation.

(2) The levy, assessment and collection of taxes and fees mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and the- regulations made thereunder. B. Consolidated rate on lands and buildings and surcharge.

88. (1) The consolidated rate on land and buildings for the purposes of this Act shall be as follows:—

(i) ten per cent of the annual value of the land and buildings— where the annual value does not exceed five hundred rupees;

(ii) eighteen per cent. of the annual value of the land and building—where the annual value exceeds five hundred rupees but does not exceed one thousand rupees;

(iii) twenty-five per cent. of the annual value of the land and building—where the annual value exceeds one thousand rupees but does not exceed three thousand rupees;

(iv) thirty per cent. of the annual value of the land and building— where the annual value exceeds three thousand rupees but does not exceed ten thousand rupees;

(v) thirty-five per cent. of the annual value of the land and building—where the annual value exceeds ten thousand rupees but does not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees;

(vi) forty per cent. of the annual value of the land and building— where the annual value exceeds twenty-five thousand rupees; Provided that the land and buildings the annual value of which does not exceed one hundred rupees shall be exempt from the consolidated rate:

Provided further that the Mayor-in-Council may exempt, either wholly or partially, from the consolidated rate any land which is used exclusively for the purpose of public charity or as public burial or burning ground.

(2) A surcharge at such rate not exceeding fifty per cent. of the consolidated rate calculated under sub-section (1) as the Mayor-in-Council may, from time to time, determine at a meeting convened for the purpose, may be imposed on any land and building which is used wholly or partially for commercial, industrial or any other non-residential purpose. Consoli-

dated rate on

lands and

buildings

and

surcharge.

311

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IV.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—B. Consolidated rate on lands and Buildings and Surcharge.—Section. 88.)

(3) Out of the amount of the surcharge imposed under sub-section (2), ten per cent. shall be credited to the relative account of the Municipal Fund as water rate.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, lands and buildings which are the properties of the Union shall be exempt from the consolidated rate:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent the Corporation from levying on such lands and buildings a consolidated rate to which immediately before the commencement of this Act they were, or were treated as, liable:

Provided further that the Corporation may levy a service charge on such buildings on the basis of such annual value and at such rate as may be determined by the Central Government from time to time.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the consolidated rate on the—

(a) land owned by or belonging to—

(i) the Board of Trustees for the Improvement of Howrah, constitutedunder the Howrah Improvement Act, 1956, or

(ii) the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority, constituted under the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 1972, or .

(iii) the West Bengal Housing Board, constituted under the West Bengal Housing Board Act, 1972, or

(iv) the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, established under the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Act, 1974, or

(v) such other statutory body' as may be specified by the State Government in this behalf from time to time, shall be twenty-one per cent of the annual value of such land;

(b) land or building acquired, constructed, purchased or owned by the State Government or any of the statutory bodies mentioned in clause (a) for the purpose of subsidised housing scheme for persons belonging to low-income group and industrial workers and comprising tenements let out to persons belonging to low-income group and industrial workers on a monthly rent shall be twenty-one per cent. of the annual value of such land or building determined under this Chapter.

West Ben.

Act XIV of

1956.

West Ben. Act XI of

1972.

West Ben. Act XXXIII of 1972. West Ben. Act XXV of

1974.

312

The 1-fowrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 1V.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—C. Determination of Annual Valuation.—Section. 89.)

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2) or elsewhere in this Chapter the consolidated rate on lands and buildings shall not exceed,—

(a) in respect of a bustee under the West Bengal Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1972, fifteen per cent., and

(b) in respect of any other bustee, ten per cent, of the annual value of such bustee determined under this Chapter.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, lands and buildings which vest in the Board of Trustees for the Port of Calcutta Ben. Act III shall, for the purpose of levying a consolidated rate thereon, be assessed or 1890.

in accordance with the provisions of the Calcutta Port Act, 1890. West Ben.

Act X of

1972.

C. Determination of Annual Valuation.

89. For the purpose of determination of the consolidated rate on any land or building,

(a) the annual value of land, and the annual value of any building erected for letting purposes or ordinarily let, shall be deemed to be the gross annual rent at which the land or building might at the time of assessment be reasonably expected to be let from year to year, less, in the case of a building, an allowance of ten per cent for the cost of repairs and for all other expenses necessary to maintain the building in a state to command such gross rent; and

(b) the annual value of any building not erected for letting purposes and not ordinarily let, shall be deemed to be five per cent. on the sum obtained by adding the estimated present cost of erecting the building, less a reasonable amount to be deducted on account of depreciation (if any), to the estimated present value of the land valued with the building as part of the same premises:

Provided that—

(i) the annual value of a hut in bustee shall be the gross annual rent at which the hut may reasonably be expected to let from year to year less ten per cent. of such annual rent to maintain the said hut in a state to command such gross rent; and the land upon which such huts in a bustee are erected together with the remaining land, excluding the land used for roads and other public uses, shall be assessed separately under the provisions of this Chapter;

Determina-

tion of

annual

value.

313

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IV.—Taxation.--Chapter VIII—C. Determination of Annual Valuation.—Section 90.)

(ii) in calculating the value of any land or building under this section, the value of any machinery on such land or in such building shall be excluded, but all fixtures including lifts and electric and other fittings which add to the convenience of the building shall be valued, subject in the case of a lift to such deduction from the valuation, as the Commissioner may think proper,• on account of the cost of repairs to, maintenance of, and attendance on, such lift;

(iii) if in the case of a building valued under clause (b), the annual value of which does not exceed five hundred rupees, any exceptional circumstances exists which render a valuation of five per cent. on the cost of erecting the building less depreciation, excessive, a lower percentage may be taken;

(iv) when any building has been valued at a special percentage taken under clause (iii) of this proviso, it may be re-valued at any tithe after the exceptional circumstances referred to in that clause have ceased to exist.

Municipal

Assessment

Code.

90. (1) The State Government may by rules provide for the detailed procedure for determination of the annual value of lands or buildings in Howrah and for other matters connected therewith and such rules together with any regulations made under this Act shall constitute the Municipal Assessment Code.

(2) Under the rules as aforesaid—

(i) every building together with the site and the land appurtenant thereto shall be assessed as a single unit:

Provided that where portions of any building together with the site and the land appurtenant thereto are vertically divisible and are separately owned so as to be entirely dependent and capable of separate enjoyment

notwithstanding the fact that access to such separate portions is made through a common passage or a staircase, such separately owned portions may be assessed separately:

Provided further that the right of such access is protected by a registered deed of agreement;

314

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—C. Determination of Annual Valuation.—Section. 90.)

(ii) all lands or buildings, to the extent there are contiguous or are within the same curtilage or are on the same foundation and are owned by the same owner or co-owners as an undivided property, shall be treated as one unit for the purpose of assessment under this Act;

(iii) each residential unit with its percentage of the undivided interest in the common areas and facilities constructed or purchased and owned by or under the control of any housing co-operative society registered under the West Bengal Co- operative Societies Act, 1973, shall be assessed separately;

(iv) each apartment or its percentage of the undivided interest in the common areas and the facilities in a building within the meaning of the West Bengal Apartment Ownership Act, 1972, declaration in respect of which has been duly executed and registered under the provisions of this Act, shall be assessed separately;

(v) every hut in a bustee shall be assessed separately.

(3) Notwithstanding the assessments made before the commence- ment of this Act, the Commissioner on his own motion may amulgamate or separate or continue to assess as such, as the case may be, lands or buildings or portions thereof so as to ensure conformity with the provisions of this section.

(4) If the ownership of any land or building or a portion thereof is sub-divided into separate shares or if more than one land or building or portions thereof by amulgamation come under one ownership, the Commissioner may on an application from the owners or co-owners, separate or amulgamate, as the case may be, such lands or buildings or portions thereof so as to ensure conformity with the provisions of this section.

(5) A newly constructed building shall become assessable from the date of its occupation.

(6) The Commissioner shall, upon an application made in this behalf by an owner, lessee or sub-lessee or occupier of any land or building and upon payment of such fees as may be determined by the Corporation by regulations, furnish information to such person regarding the apportionment of the consolidated rate of such land or building among the several occupiers within such land or building for the current period or the period immediately preceding:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent the Corporation from recovering the dues from any such person.

West Ben.

Act

XXXVIII of

1973.

West Ben. Act XVI of

1972.

315

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Periodical

assessment.

Municipal

Assessment

Book.

Objection

against

valuation or

assessment.

Revision of

assessment.

(Part IV.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—D. Assessment.— Sections 91-94.)

D. Assessment

91. (1) The Annual value of any land building situated in any ward of the Corporation which has been determined before and in force on the date of commencement of this Act, shall remain in force and shall be deemed to be the annual value for the purpose of assessment of consolidated rate on such land or building under this Act, until a fresh annual valuation is enforced under this Act.

(2) The annual value and assessment under his Chapter,—

(a) shall be made by the Commissioner or, if the State Government so directs, by the Central Valuation Board established under the West Bengal Central Valuation Board Act, 1978,

(b) shall have effect from the beginning of the quarter of a year ending on the thirtieth June or thirtieth September or thirty- first December or thirty-first March, as the case may be, following that in which an assessment is made,

(c) shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, remain in force in respect of each ward of the Corporation for a period of six years and may be revised on the expiration of each such period.

92. (1) The annual value of lands and buildings as determined under this Act shall be entered in the Municipal Assessment Book.

(2) The Municipal Assessment Book shall be maintained in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The Municipal Assessment Book duly authenticated in the manner prescribed shall be kept in the office of the Corporation and shall be open for inspection free of charge and extracts therefrom shall be made available on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

(4) The Municipal Assessment Book may be printed and published for every ward of the Corporation and made available for sale to the public in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

93. Any person, who is dissatisfied with a valuation or assessment made under this Chapter, may file an objection to such valuation or assessment in such manner as may be prescribed and before such authority as may be appointed by the Mayor-in-Council in this behalf

94. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the Mayor- in-Council may cause revaluation of lands and buildings or valuation of new buildings in any ward of the Corporation during the period the annual valuation remains in force in such ward.

West Ben.

Act LVII of

1978.

316

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV—Taxation.—Chapter VIII—E. Incidence and payment of consolidated rate on lands and buildings.—Sections 95, 96.) E. Incidence and payment of consolidated rate on lands and buildings.

95. (1) The consolidated rate on lands and buildings shall be primarily leviable,—

(a) if the land or building is let, upon the lessor;

(b) if the land or building is sublet, upon the superior lessor;

(2) The consolidated rate on any land or building, which is the property of the Corporation and the possession of which has been delivered under any agreement or licensing arrangement, shall be leviable upon the transferee or the licensee, as the case may be.

(3) The liability of the several owners of any building constituting a single unit of assessment, which is or purports to be severally owned in parts or flats or rooms, for payment of consolidated rate or any instalment thereof payable during the period of such ownership shall be joint and several:

Provided that the Commissioner may apportion the amount of consolidated rate on such building among the co-owners.

96. (1) If the annual value of any land or building exceeds the amount of rent of such land or building payable to the person upon whom the consolidated rate on such land or building is leviable under section 95, such person shall be entitled to receive from his tenant the difference between the amount of the consolidated rate on such land or building and the amount which would be leviable if the consolidated rate on such land or building were calculated on the basis of the rent payable to him.

(2) If the annual value of any land or building which is sublet exceeds the amount of rent of such land or building payable to the tenant by his sub-tenant or to the sub-tenant by the person holding under him, the tenant or the sub-tenant shall be entitled to receive from his sub-tenant or the person holding under him, as the case may be, the difference between any sum recovered under this Act from such tenant or sub-tenant and the amount of consolidated rate on such land or building which would be leviable if the annual valuation of such land or building were equal to the difference between the amount of rent which such tenant or sub-tenant receives and the amount of rent he pays.

Incidence of

consolidated

rate of lands

and

buildings.

Apportion-

ment of

liability for

consolidated

rate.

317

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IV—Taxation.—Chapter VIII—E. Incidence and payment of consolidated rate on lands and buildings.—Sections 97-99.) Consoli-

dated rate on

lands and

buildings

from

occupiers.

97. (1) On the failure to recover any sum due on account of consolidated rate on any land or building from the person primarily liable therefor under section 95, the Commissioner shall recover from the occupier of such land or building, by attachment of the rent payable by such occupier, a protion of the total sum due which bears, as nearly as may, be the same proportion to that sum as the rent annually payable by such occupier bears to the total amount of rent annually payable in respect of the whole of such land or building.

(2) An occupier, from whom any sum is recovered under sub- section (1), shall be entitled to be reimburshed by the person primarily liable for the payment of such sum, and may, in addition to having recourse to other remedies that may be open to him, deduct the amount so recovered from the amount of any rent becoming due from time to time from him to such person.

98. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the consolidated rate on any land or building under this Chapter shall be paid by the person liable for the payment thereof in quarterly instalments.

99. (I) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, the consolidated rate on lands and buildings in a bustee shall, after deducting therefrom a sum equal to one-eighth of such rate, be paid by the owner of the land in the bustee.

(2) Whenever a consolidated rate on land and building in a bustee is leviable, the owner of the land in such bustee may recover from the owner of each hut standing thereon—

(i) half of the consolidated rate on the land on which the hut stands; and

(ii) the consolidated rate on the hut standing on the land.

(3) The sum deducted under sub-section (1) shall be retained by the owner of the land in the bustee—

(a) as a set-off against the expenses which may be incurred in collecting the portion of the consolidated rate on lands and buildings recoverable under sub-section (2), and

(b) as a commutation of all refunds in respect of the huts which are vacant or which may be removed or destroyed during the period the consolidated rate on lands and buildings remains in force.

Payment of

consolidated

rate in

quarterly

instalments.

Consoli-

dated rate in

a bustee.

318

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV—Taxation.—Chapter VIII.—E. Incidence and payment of consolidated rate on lands and buildings.—Sections 100, 101.— F. Tax on professions, trades and callings.—Section 102.)

100. If any surcharge is levied on the consolidated rate on any land or building under sub-section (2) of section 88, the person liable to pay such surcharge, may recover the same from the occupier of such land or building who uses it for non-residential purpose:

Provided that if there is more than one such occupier, the amount of surcharge may be rateably apportioned among them by such person for the purpose of recovery under this section.

Person liable

to pay

surcharge to

recover it

from the

occupier.

101. (1) When a person liable for the payment of the consolidated Penalty in rate on lands and buildings or surcharge on the consolidated rate case of default in defaults to pay the sum due within the prescribed period, a sum not payment of exceeding twenty-five per cent. of the amount of the consolidated consolidated rate or the surcharge, as may be determined by the Corporation by surcharge. regulations, may be recovered from him by way of penalty, in addition to the amount of the consolidated rate or the surcharge payable by him.

(2) The amount due as penalty under sub-section (1) shall be recoverable as an arear of tax under this Act. F. Tax on professions, trades and callings.

102. (1) Every person, who exercises or carries on in Howrah, either by himself or by an agent or by a representative, any of the professions, trades or callings mentioned in Schedule III, shall, before the first day of July in each year or within one month of his taking up such profession, trade or calling, as the case may be, pay annually a tax thereon at the rate mentioned in that Schedule:

Provided that the payment of such tax shall not be deemed to affect the liability of such person to take out a license under the provision of any law in force for the time being.

(2) The Commissioner may require the owner or the occupier of any building or place or any person subject to any tax under this Act or any person who exercises or carries on any profession, trade or calling to furnish such statement, books of accounts or information as may be prescribed.

(3) The Corporation may by regulations provide for the manner of imposition of tax on professions, trades or callings and for payment, refund or remission of such tax.

Tax on

professions,

trades and

callings.

319

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part IV—Taxation—Chapter VIII —G. Tax on advertisements.— Sections 103-106.)

G. Tax on advertisements.

Tax on, and

license for,

advertise-

ments.

Prohibition

advertise-

ments

without

payment of

tax.

Presumption

in case of

contraven-

tion.

Power of

Commis-

sioner in

case of

contraven-

tion.

103. (1) Every person, who erects, exhibits, fixes or retains upon or over any land, building, wall, hoarding, frame, post, kiosk or structure on, upon, or in any vehicle any advertisement, or who displays any advertisement to public view in any manner whatsoever visible from a public street or other public place, shall pay for every advertisement which is so erected, exhibited, fixed, retained or displayed to public view, a tax at such rate not exceeding the rate mentioned in Schedule IV, as may be determined by the Corporation.

(2) When any person pays any tax for any advertisement under sub-section (1), the Commissioner shall grant him a licence in respect of such advertisement specifying the period for which it is valid.

(3) The Corporation may by regulation determine the conditions for the grant of licence under this section and the time for, and the manner of, payment of the tax under this section.

104. No advertisement for which tax is payable under section 103 shall be erected, exhibited, fixed or retained upon or over any land, building, wall, hoarding or structure or shall be displayed to public view in any manner whatsoever in any place unless the tax is paid.

105. Where any advertisement has been erected, exhibited, fixed or retained upon or over any land, building, wall, hoarding or structure or within a public street or a public place in contravention of the provisions of this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder, it shall be presumed that the contravention has been committed by the person or persons or their agents on whose behalf the advertisement purports to be so erected, exhibited, fixed or retained.

106. If any advertisement is erected, exhibited, fixed or retained in contravention of the provisions of this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder, the Commissioner may require the owner or the occupier of the land, building, wall, hoarding or structure upon or over which the same is erected, exhibited, fixed or retained, to take down or remove such advertisement or may enter any building, land or property and have the advertisement dismantled, taken down or removed or spoiled, effaced or screened.

320

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Pan 1V.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—G. Tax on advertisement.— Section 107.—H. Tax on carriages and animals.—Section 108.)

107. The provisions of sections 103 to 106 shall not apply to any Exceptions. advertisement which—

(a) relates to a public meeting or an election to the Parliament or the State Legislature or the Corporation or any candidature in respect of such election; or

(b) is exhibited within the window of any building if the advertisement relates to any trade, profession or business carried on in such building; or

(c) relates to any trade, profession or business carried on within the land or building upon or over which such advertisement is exhibited or to any sale or letting of such land or building or any effects therein or to any sale entertainment or meeting to be held on or upon or in such land or building; or

(d) relates to the name of any land or building upon or over which the advertisement is exhibited or to the name of the owner or the occupier of such land or building; or

(e) relates to any railway administration and is exhibited within any railway station or upon ahy wall or other property of a railway administration; or

(f) relates to any activity of the Government or the Corporation; or

(g) is not exhibited for the purpose of any trade and relates to any—

(i) public charitable institution, or

(ii) public educational institution, or

(iii) public hospital, or

(iv) free dispensary, or

(v) place of worship, or

(vi) information or direction given to the public for their convenience or guidance.

H. Tax on carriages and animals.

108. A tax shall be imposed by the Corporation on all carriages and Tax on animals kept in Howrah, except—

carriages and animals.

(a) carriage kept for sale by bona fide dealers in such carriages and not used for any other purpose;

(b) carriages and animals maintained by any authority for the purpose of a fire brigade;

321

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Rate of tax.

Tax on

whom

leviable.

Licence.

(Part 1V—Taxation.---Chapter VIII—R. Tax on carriages and animals.—Sections 109-111.)

(d) such other classes of carriages and animals as may be prescribed.

Explanation L —The expression carriages includes hackney- carriage, rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, four-wheeled or two-wheeled carriage, jin-rickshaw, bicycle or tricycle, car drawn by animals, pushcart or theta but does not include children's perambulators or tricycles.

Explanation IL—The expression "animals" includes horse, donkey, mule, pony, cow, buffalo, goat, pig, sheep and dog.

109. The rate of tax on carriages and animals shall be such as may be determined by regulations and different rates may be fixed for different classes of carriages or animals:

Provided that the rate of such tax shall not exceed one hundred rupees annually in the case of a carriage or an animal.

110. The tax on carriages and animals shall be leviable upon the owners or the persons having possession or control of the carriages or the animals:

Provided that in the case of an animal generally used or employed in drawing any carriage, the tax in respect of such animal shall be leviable upon the owner or the person having possession or control of such carriage, whether or not such animal is owned by such owner or such person.

111. (1) When the owner or the person having possession or control of any carriage or animal pays to the Corporation the tax payable by him under this Act, the Commissioner shall grant him a licence.

(2) The Commissioner may require the owner or the person having possession or control of any carriage or animal or the occupier of any land or building on or in which any animal is kept to furnish such statement in relation to such carriage or animal as may be prescribed.

(3) The Commissioner may, by a written notice, require any person who carries on trade or business of a livery stable-keeper to produce for inspection all books and accounts relating to such trade or business.

322

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 11/.—Taxation.—Chapter V111.—H. Tax on carriages and animals.—Sections 112, 113.-1. Tolt—Section 114.)

112. The Mayor-in-Council may compound, for any period not exceeding one year at a time, with any livery stable-keeper or other person keeping vehicles for hire or animals for sale or hire, for a lump sum to be paid by such livery stable-keeper or other person in respect of the vehicles or animals so kept in lieu of the taxes. which such livery stable-keeper or other person would otherwise be liable to pay under this Act.

113. The Corporation may by regulations determine the manner of imposition, payment, refund and remission of tax on carriages and animals, the time for payment of such tax and the conditions under which a license may be granted.

I. Toll.

114. The Corporation may, with the sanction of the State Government—

(i) establish a toll-bar on any public street (except a kutcha road), whether situated in or without Howrah, vested in the Corporation and constructed or reconstructed by or on behalf of the Corporation; and

(ii) levy tolls at such toll-bar on persons, vehicles and animals passing over such street:

Provided that no toll-bar shall be established or tolls levied otherwise than for the purpose of recovering—

(a) the expenses incurred by the Corporation in constructing or reconstructing such street,

(b) interest on such expenses,

(i) at the rate of four per cent. per annum; or

(ii) when such expenses are defrayed wholly or in part from a loan, one and a half per cent. per annum above the rate of interest chargeable on such loan; and

Power of

Mayor-in-

Council to

compound

for tax.

Power of

Corporation

to make

regulations

providing

for manner

imposition,

etc. of tax.

Toll on

roads.

323

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Manner of

recovery of

taxes under

this Act.

Time and

manner of

payment of

taxes.

(Part 111.—Taxation.—Chapter Payment and recovery of taxes.—Sections 115-117.)

CHAPTER IX

A. Payment and recovery of taxes.

115. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, any tax levied under this Act may be recovered in accordance with the following procedure and in such manner as may be prescribed—

(a) by presenting a bill, or

(b) by serving a notice of demand, or

(d) by the attachment and sale of a defaulter's immovable property, or

(e) in the case of consolidated rate on lands and buildings, by the attachment of rent due in respect of the land or the building, or

(f) by a certificate under the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913.

116. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, any tax levied under this Act shall be payable on such dates, in such number of instalments and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) If any amount due is paid on or before the date determined under sub-section (1), a rebate of five per cent. of such amount shall be allowed.

Ben. Act III

of 1913.

Presenta

of bill.

on 117. (1) When any tax has become due, the Commissioner shall cause to be presented to the person liable for the payment thereof a bill for the amount due:

Provided that no such bill shall be necessary in the case of—

(a) a tax on professions, trades and callings;

(b) a tax on advertisements;

(c) a toll. Explanation.—A bill shall be deemed to be presented under this section if it is sent by post under certificate of posting to the person liable for payment of the amount included in the bill, and in such case, the date borne on such certificate of posting shall be deemed to be the date of presentation of the bill to such person.

(2) Every such bill shall specify the particulars of the tax and the period for which charge is made.

324

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part 117.—Taxation.—Chapter IX.—A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Sections 118-120.)

118. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, if the amount of the tax for which a bill has been presented under section 117, is not paid within thirty days from the presentation thereof or if the tax on professions, trades and callings or the tax on advertisements is not paid after it has become due, the Commissioner may cause to be served upon the person liable for the payment of the same notice of demand in such form as may be specified by the Corporation by regulations.

(2) For every notice of demand which the Commissioner causes to be served on any person under this sectiOn, a fee of such amount, not exceeding twenty-five rupees, as the Corporation may determine by regulations shall be payable by the said person and shall be included in the cost of recovery.

119. (1) If the person liable for the payment of any tax does not, within thirty days of the service of the notice of demand under section 118, pay the sum due and if no appeal is preferred against such tax, he shall be deemed to be in default.

(2) When the person liable for the payment of any tax is deemed to be in default under sub-section (1), such sum, not exceeding fifteen per cent. of the amount of tax, as may be determined by the COrporation by regulations, may be recovered from him by way of penalty, in addition to the amount of the tax, the notice fee payable under sub-section (2) of section 118, and simple interest in accordance with sub-section (3).

(3) Simple interest at such rate as may be determined by the State Government from time to time shall be payable on any amount of tax remaining unpaid with effect from the date from which the person referred to in sub-section (1) becomes a defaulter under that sub-section.

(4) The amount due as penalty or interest under this section shall be recoverable as an arrear of tax under this Act.

120. (1) If any person liable for payment of tax does not, within thirty days after the. expiry of thirty days referred to in sub-section (I) of section 119, pay the amount due, such sum together with all costs, interest due and penalty may be recovered under a warrant, issued in such form as may be specified by the Corporation by regulations, by distress and sale of the movable property or the attachment and sale of the immovable property of the defaulter:

Provided that the Commissioner shall not recover any sum the liability of which has been remitted on appeal under the provisions of this Act.

(2) Every warrant issued under this section shall be signed by the Commissioner or any other officer authorised by him in this behalf. Notice of

demand and

notice fee.

Penalty in

case of

payment of

taxes.

Recovery of

tax.

325

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Pan IV.—Taxation.—Chapter IX.—A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Sections 121, 122.)

121. (1) It shall be lawful for any officer or other employee of the Corporation to whom a warrant issued under this Chapter is addressed to distrain, wherever it may be found in any place in Howrah, any movable property belonging to the person therein named as defaulter, subject to the following conditions, exceptions and exemptions, namely:—

(a) the following property shall not be distrained:—

(i) the necessary wearing apparel and bedding of the defaulter, his wife and children and their cooking and eating utensils;

(ii) tools of artisans;

(iii) books of accounts;

(b) the distress shall not be excessive, that is to say, the property distrained shall be as nearly as possible equal in value to the amount recoverable under warrant, and if any property has been distrained which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, should not have been distrained, it shall forthwith be released.

(2) The person charged with the execution of a warrant shall in the presence of two witnesses forthwith make an inventory of the property which he seizes under such warrant, and shall, at the same time, give a written notice in such form as may be specified by the Corporation by regulations to the person in possession thereof at the time of seizure that the said property will be sold as therein mentioned.

(3) If there is reason to believe that any property seized under a warrant of distress issued under section 118, if left in the place where it is found is likely to be removed by force, the officer executing the warrant may take it to the office of the Corporation or to any place appointed by the Commissioner.

122. (1) When the property seized is subject to speedy and natural decay or when the expense of keeping it in custody is, when added to the amount to be recovered, likely to exceed its value, the Commissioner shall give notice to the person in whose possession the property was at the time of seizure that it will be sold at once, and he shall sell it accordingly by public auction unless the amount mentioned in the warrant is forthwith paid.

(2) If the warrant is not in the meantime suspended by the Commissioner or discharged, the property seized shall, after the expiry of the period mentioned in the notice served under sub-section (2) of section 121, be sold by public auction by order of the Commissioner. Distress.

Disposal of

distrained

property and

attachment

and sale of

immovable

property.

326

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV—Taxation.—Chapter 1X.—A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Section 123.)

(3) When a warrant is issued for the attachment and sale of immovable property, the attachment shall be made by an order prohibiting the defaulter from transferring or charging the property in any way and all persons from taking any benefit from such transfer or charge and declaring that such property will be sold unless the amount of tax due with all costs of recovery is paid into the Corporation office within fifteen days from the date of attachment.

(4) A copy of the order under sub-section (3) shall be affixed on a conspicuous part of the property and upon a conspicuous part of the Corporation office.

(5) Any transfer of or charge on the property attached or any interest therein made without written permission of the Commissioner shall be void as against all claims of the Corporation enforceable under ,the attachment.

(6) The surplus of the sale proceeds, if any, shall, immediately after the sale of the property, be credited to the General Account of the Municipal Fund, and notice of such credit shall be given at the same time to the person whose property has been sold or his legal representative, and if the same is claimed by written application to the Commissioner within one year from the date of the notice, a refund thereof shall be made to such person or representative.

(7) All sales of property under this section shall, so far as may be practicable, be regulated by the procedure in force for the time being in the Court of the District Judge, Howrah with respect to a sale after distress.

(8) No officer or employee of the Corporation shall directly or indirectly purchase any property at any such sale.

(9) Any surplus not claimed within one year as aforesaid shall be the property of the Corporation.

(10) For every distraint and attachment made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a fee of such amount not exceeding two and a half per cent. of the amount of the tax due as shall in each case be fixed by the Commissioner shall be charged and included in the costs of recovery.

123. (I) If the Commissioner has reason to believe that any person from whom any sum is due or is about to become due on account of any tax is about to move from Howrah, he may direct the immediate payment by such person of the sum so due or about to become due and to cause a notice of demand for the same to be served on such person. Recovery

from a

person about

to leave

Howrah.

327

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Recovery

under Ben.

Act III of

1913.

Distraint not unlawful for want of

form.

Occupiers way be

required to pay rent

towards

satisfaction of

consolidated rates.

(Part 1V.—Taxation.—Chapter IX.—A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Sections 124-126.)

(2) If, on the service of such notice, such person does not forthwith pay the sum so due or about to become due, the amount shall be leviable by distress or attachment and sale in the manner hereinbefore provided, and the warrant of distress or attachment and sale may be issued and executed without any delay.

124. After a defaulter has been proceeded against unsuccessfully under the foregoing provisions of this Chapter or with partial success, any sum due or the balance of any sum due may be recovered by the Commissioner by certificate under the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913, together with interest and cost of recovery.

125. No distress under this Act shall be deemed to be unlawful nor

• shall any person making the same be deemed to be a trespasser on account of—

(a) any defect or want of form in the notice, summons, notice of demand, warrant of distress, inventory or other proceeding relating thereto, or

(b) any irregularity committed by such person:

Provided that any person aggrieved by such defect or irregularity may, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, recover the full satisfaction of any special damage sustained by him.

126. (1) For the purposes of recovery of any consolidated rate from any occupier under section 97, the Commissioner shall cause to be served on such occupier a notice requiring him to pay to the Corporation any rent due or falling due from him in respect of the land or building to the extent necessary to satisfy the portion of the sum due for which he is liable under the said section.

(2) Such notice shall operate as an attachment of such rent unless the portion of the sum due shall have been paid and satisfied, and the occupier shall be entitled to credit in account with the person to whom such rent is due for any sum paid by him to the Corporation in pursuance of such notice:

Provided that if the person to whom such rent is due is not the person primarily liable for payment of the consolidated rate, he shall be entitled to recover from the person primarily liable for the payment of such tax any amount for which credit is claimed as aforesaid. Ben. Act III

of 1913.

328

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 19801

(Part 1V.—Taxation.—Chapter IX.—A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Sections 127, 128.)

(3) If any occupier fails to pay to the Corporation any rent due or falling due which he has been required to pay in pursuance of a notice served upon him as aforesaid, the amount of such rent may be recovered from him by the Corporation as an arrear of tax under this Act.

127. (1) If any money is due under this Act from the owner of any land or premises on account of consolidated rate on lands and buildings or any other tax, expenses on charges recoverable under this Act and if the owner of such land or premises is unknown or the ownership thereof is disputed, the Commissioner may publish twice, at an interval of not less than two months, a notification of such dues and of sale of such land or premises for realisation thereof and after the expiry of not less than one month from the date of last publication of such notification, unless the amount recoverable is paid, may sell such land or premises by public auction to the highest bidder, who shall deposit, at the time of sale, twenty-five per cent. of the purchase money, and the balance thereof within thirty days of the date of sale. Such notification shall be published in the Official Gazette and in local newspapers and by displaying on the land or the premises concerned.

(2) After deducting the amount due to the Corporation as aforesaid, the surplus sale proceeds, if any, shall be credited to the General Account of the Municipal Fund and may be paid, on demand, to any person who establishes his right thereto to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or a court of competent jurisdiction.

(3) Any person may pay the amount due at any time before the completion of the sale, whereupon the sale shall be abandoned. Such person may recover such amout by a suit in a court of competent jurisdiction from any person beneficially interested in such land or premises.

128. (1) No assessment and no charge or demand of the consolidated rate on lands and buildings or of any other tax made under this Act shall be called in question or shall in any way be affected by reason of—

(a) any clerical or arithmetical mistake arising from any accidental slip or omission—

(i) in the name, residence, place of business or occupation of any person liable to pay such tax, or

(ii) in the description of any property or thing liable to such tax, or

(iii) in the amount of assessment of such tax, or Recovery of

consolidated

rate on lands

and

buildings or

any other tax

or charges

when owner

of land or

premises is

unknown or

ownership is

disputed.

Taxes not

invalid for

defect of

form.

329

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Cancellation

irrecover-

able dues.

(Part 1V.—Taxation.—Chapter IX. A. Payment and recovery of taxes.—Section 129.—B. Recovery of consolidated rate by person, etc.—Section 130.)

(b) (i) any clerical error, or

(ii) any defect of form, not being of a substantial nature:

Provided that the Commissioner may, either of his own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person, correct any clerical or arithmetical mistake or clerical error or defect of form as aforesaid.

(2) It shall suffice for the purpose of levying any tax under this Act or of any assessment of value of any property under this Act, if the property taxed or assessed is so described as to be generally known, and it shall not be necessary to name the owner or the occupier thereof.

129. The Corporation may by order strike off the books of the Corporation any sum due on account of the consolidated rate on lands and buildings or any other tax or on any other account, which may appear to it to be irrecoverable.

B. Recovery of consolidated rate by person primarily liable to pay to the Corporation.

Apportion-

ment of

consolidated

rate by the

person

primarily

liable to pay.

130. Save as otherwise provided in the Act, the person primarily liable to pay the consolidated rate in respect of any land or building may recover—

(a) if there be but one occupier of the land or building, from such occupier half of the rate so paid, and may, if there be more than one occupier, recover from each occupier half of such sum as bears to the entire amount of rate so paid by the owner the same proportion as the value of the portion of the land or building in the occupation of such occupier bears to the entire value of such land or building:

Provided that if there be more than one occupier, such half of the amount may be apportioned and recovered from each occupier, in such proportion as the annual value of the portion occupied by him bears to the total annual value of such land or building;

(b) the entire amount of the surcharge on the consolidated rate on any land or building from the occupier of such land or building who uses it for commercial or non-residential purposes:

Provided that if there is more than one such occupier, the amount of surcharge on the consolidated rate may be

330

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part IV.—Taxation.—Chapter IX.—B. Recovery of consolidated rate by person, etc.—Sections 131, 132.—Part V.—Civic Services.— Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—A. Proprietory rights of the Corporation.—Sections 133, 134.)

apportioned and recovered from each such occupier in such proportion as the annual value of the portion occupied by him bears to the total annual value of such land or building.

131. If any person is primarily liable to pay any consolidated rate on any land or building and is entitled to recover any sum from an occupier of such land or building, he shall have, for recovery thereof, the same rights and remedies as if such sum were rent payable to him by the person from whom he is entitled to recover such sum.

132. The consolidated rate on lands and buildings due from any person shall, subject to the prior payment of land revenue (if any) due to the Government thereupon, be a first charge upon the land or the building belonging to such person and upon the movable property (if any) found within or upon such land or building.

Mode of

recovery.

The

consolidated

rate on lands

and

buildings to

be first

charge on

premises.

PART V

Civic Services.

CHAPTER X

Water Supply and Drainage. A. Proprietory rights of the Corporation.

133. All public tanks, reservoirs, cisterns, wells, tubewells, acqueducts, conduits, tunnels, pipes, taps and other water-works, whether made, laid or erected at the cost of the Municipal Fund or otherwise, and all bridges, buildings, engines, works, materials and things, connected therewith or appertaining thereto, and also any adjacent land (not being private property) appeartaining to any public tank, which is situated in Howrah, shall vest in the Corporation:

Provided that the Corporation may, with the approval of the State Government, make over the water-works, for development and maintenance to a separate and independent agency and it shall be lawful for such agency to construct or acquire new water-works.

134. (1) All rights over the sub-soil water resources in Howrah shall vest in the Corporation.

Public

water-works

etc. to vest

in the

Corporation.

Reghts over

sub-soil

water

resources.

331

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X—Water Supply and Drainage.—A. Proptietoty rights of the Corporation.— Sections 135-139.)

(2) No person shall sink a tubewell in Howrah except with the prior permission of the Commissioner.

(3) The Commissioner may grant such permission on such terms and conditions as may be determined by regulation. Supply of

filtered and

unfiltered

water.

Power of

Commis-

sioner to

allow owner

or occupier

of premises

to lay down

service-

pipes.

Private

connections

to premises.

Regulation

consu mption

of water and

provision for

meters.

Bathing

platforms

and public,

urinals,

latrines,

stand post.

135. (1) The Corporation shall, within the limits of its capacity, provide for the supply of—

(a) filtered Water in all parts of Howrah for domestic purposes, and

(b) unfiltered water for the purpose of street-watering, flushing of municipal drains, public privies and urinals, gully pits and extinguishing fire.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1), the Corporation may supply filtered water and unfiltered water for any other purpose on such terms and conditions as may be provided by regulation made by it in this behalf.

136. Subject to such conditions as the Corporation may from time to time impose, the Commissioner may allow any person owning or occupying any premises to lay down service-pipes from the mains of the Corporation for the purpose of bringing into the premises a supply of filtered and unfiltered water for use therein under the provisions of this Act or the regulations made thereunder.

137. All private connections to premises from the mains of the Corporation for the supply of water therein and all pipes, taps and other fittings used for such supply shall be made, maintained and regulated in accordance with such regulations as may be made in this behalf.

138. No owner or occupier of any premises shall suffer water to be waste. The Corporation may establish block meter for any area or cause meters to be attached to premises for recording the supply of filtered water for regulation of consumption of water and prevention of wastage of water in such manner and may impose fees at such rates for consumption beyond such limit, as may be determined by regulations.

139. The Corporation may erect bathing platforms, urinals, latrines and public stand posts to be maintained in such manner as may be determined, and may levy such user fees for realisation of cost of maintenance thereof as may be specified, by regulations.

332

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—B. Drainage Sewerage.—Sections 140442.) B. Drainage Sewerage.

140. (1) All public drains, and all drains in, alongside or under any public street, whether made at the charge of the Municipal Fund or otherwise, and all work, materials and things appertaining thereto, which are situate at Howrah, shall vest in the Corporation:

Provided that the Corporation may, with the approval of the State Government, make over the trunk-sewers, sewage treatment plants, pumping stations and other utilities to a separate and independent agency for maintenance and development and it shall be lawful for such agency to construct new trunk-sewers, sewage treatment plants, pumping stations or other utilities.

(2) For the purposes of enlarging, deepening or otherwise repairing or maintaining any such drain so much of the sub-soil appertaining to the drain as may be necessary for the said purpose shall also be deemed to vest in the Corporation.

141. All drains and ventilation-shaft, pipes and other appliances and fittings connected with drainage works constructed, erected or set up at the charge of the Municipal Fund in or upon premises not belonging to the Corporation whether for the use of the owner or the occupier of such premises or not shall, unless the Corporation otherwise determines, vest and be deemed always to have vested in the Corporation.

142. (1) Without the written permission of the Commissioner granted in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Corporation in this behalf—

(a) no private street shall be constructed over any municipal drain, or

(b) no wall or other structure shall be newly erected, over any municipal drain, or

(c) no wall, fence or structure shall be erected on the bed, bank or embankment or any municipal sewage or storm-water channel, nor any portion thereof shall be interfered with, encroached upon, altered or occupied for fishery, agriculture or any other purpose.

(2) If any private street is constructed, or any wall or other structure is erected over any municipal drain, or if any wall, fence or structure is erected on the bed, bank or embankment of any municipal sewage or storm-water channel or if any portion therof is interfered with, encroached Public drains

and drains

in, alongside

or under

public

streets, to

vest in

Corporation.

Drains, etc.

constructed

etc. at

charge of

Municipal

Fund on

private

premises to

vest in

Corporation.

Private

streets, etc.

not to be

constructed

over

municipal

drain

without

permission.

333

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—C. Drainage of premises.—Sections 143-146.) Right of

owner or

occupier of

premises to

empty his

house-drain

into

municipal

drain.

Connection

with

municipal

drain not to

he made

except in

conformity

with section

143.

House-drain, closed

cesspool, etc.

Grouping

combination of house- drains and enforcement of drainage to undrained premises. upon, altered or occupied without the written permission of the Commissioner, the Commissioner may remove or otherwise deal with the same in such manner as he may think fit and the expenses incurred by the Corporation in so doing shall be paid by the owner of such private street, wall or other structure or by the person who interferes with or encroaches upon or alters or occupies, as the case may be. C. Drainage of premises.

143. The owner or the occupier of any premises shall be entitled to cause his house-drain to empty into a municipal drain, provided that, before so doing, he obtains the written permission of the Commissioner and complies with such conditions as the Commissioner may determine as to the mode in which, and the superintendence under which, communications between house-drains and municipal drains are to be made.

144. ( I) No person shall, without complying with the provisions of section 143, make or cause to be made, any connection of a house-drain with a municipal drain.

(2) The Commissioner may in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Corporation in this behalf close, demolish, alter or remake any connection made in contravention of sub-section (1); and the expenses incurred in so doing shall be paid by the owner or the _occupier of the premises for the benefit of which such connection was made or by the person who made or caused to be made such connection.

145. Where any premises is in the opinion of the Commissioner without sufficient means of effective drainage, the Commissioner may be written notice require the owner of the premises to construct a house- drain up to a point to be specified in the notice or to construct a closed cesspool and drains emptying into such cesspool in such manner as may be determined by regulation.

146. The Corporation may, if it considers necessary, make regulations for grouping or combination of house-drains for economic or operational advantages and for enforcement of drainage of undrained premises and for any other matters in connection with drainage.

334

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—C. Drainage of premises.—Sections 147-151.)

147. Subject to the approval of the State Government, the Corporation may, if necessary, make the municipal drains communicate with, or empty into, any public drain, lake, canal or water course outside Howrah and may, in doing so, exercise throughout the line outside Howrah along which the municipal drains are to run all the powers exercisable by it under this Act if the said municipal drains were to run entirely in Howrah.

148. (1) No person shall throw, empty or otherwise discharge into any water source, channel or municipal drain within or outside Howrah any matter, refuse, trade effluent or waste so as to cause pollution, health hazard or nuisance prejudicial to environment.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, the Corporation may by regulation provide for treatment standard to be maintained before discharge of any industrial waste or foul water or refuse into any river, water source, channel or municipal drainage and sewerage system.

149. If it appears to the Mayor-in-Council that it is necessary to place or carry any pipe or drain over, under or across the immovable property of any person to maintain the only or the most convenient municipal water-supply to, and drainage of, any premises, the Mayor-in-Council may, after giving the owner of the immovable property an opportunity of being heard, authorise the owner or occupier of the premises to place or carry such pipe or drain over, under or across such immovable property in such manner as it may think fit to allow.

150. The Corporation may place and maintain aqueducts, conduits and lines of mains or pipes or drains over, under of across any immovable. property within or without the local limits of the Corporation without acquiring such property and may enter on any property for such purposes:

Provided that the Corporation shall not acquire any right other than the right of user in the property over, under or across which any aqueducts, conduits, lines of mains, pipes or drains are placed.

151. The Commissioner shall cause to be maintained complete survey maps, drawings and descriptions of all underground utilities in Howrah including waater-supply mains, supply pipes, sewers and connections thereto in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed and shall ensure the secrecy of the same in conformity with the provisions of the 19 of 1923 Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Municipal

drains may

communi-

cate with

public

drains, etc.

Certain

matters not

to be passed

into

municipal

drains.

Placing or

carrying any

pipe, etc.

over, under

or across

any

immovable

property.

Placing and

maintenance

aqueducts,

etc. over,

under or

across any

immovable

property.

Maps of

underground

utilities.

335

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—D. Privies, urinals and bathing and washing places.—Sections 152-154.)

Power of

Corporation

to provide

and maintain

public

privies and

urinals.

Licence for

public toilets

and urinals.

Conversion

of service

privies into

sanitary

toilets or

septic tank

latrines.

D. Privies, urinals and bathing and washing places.

152. The Corporation shall—

(a) provide and maintain, in proper and convenient situations, water closets and urinals for the use of the public, and

(b) cause such water closets and urinals to be constructed and kept so as not to be a public nuisance or injurious to public health.

153. (1) The Corporation may grant license to a private individual or organisation for maintenance and regulation of use of public toilets and urinals constructed by it and no such terms and conditions as may be determined by regulations.

(2) Such licensee shall be entitled to recover from the users such fee for the use of the public toilets and urinals as may be determined by regulations.

(3) No person shall keep or maintain a toilet or urinal for public use without the specific permission of the Corporation and the Corporation may impose such conditions therefor as it may consider necessary.

154. (1) Whenever it appears necessary on sanitary or environmental grounds, the Mayor-in-Council may declare any ward or part of a ward of the Corporation as the area—

(i) where, if the area be one covered with sewerage system, all existing service privies shall be converted into sanitary toilets with necessary connection with the sewerage system, where, if the area is not one covered with sewerage system, all service privies shall be converted into septic tank latrines, within such period as may be fixed by the Mayor-in-Council.

(2) In any area in respect of which a declaration has been made under sub-section (I), the owners of the premises served by service privies shall cause such conversion under clause (i) or clause (ii), as the case may be, of sub-section (1), to be made at their own cost.

(3) If any such owner fails to cause such conversion to be made under sub-section (2), the Corporation may cause the conversion to be made and recover the expenses thereof together with such penalty not exceeding twenty per cent. of the expenses so incurred, from such owner within such period and in such manner as may be determined by regulations.

336

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—D. Privies, urinals and bathing and washing places.—Sections 155, I56.—E. Cesspools and other filth receptacles.—Section 157.)

155. (1) There shall be provided in every new building at or in which not less than twenty labourers or workmen are likely to be employed such privy and urinal accommodation and such accommodation for bathing or washing of clothes and domestic utensils as the Corporation may decide.

(2) Where any premises at or in which not less than twenty labourers or workmen are employed are without privy, urinal, bathing or washing place accommodation or with inadequate accommodation, the Mayor-in- Council may by written notice require the owner of such premises to provide such privy, urinal or bathing or washing place accommodation as it may determine.

Privy, urinal

and other

accommoda-

tion at

premises for

twenty or

labourers or

workmen.

156. If any premises intended for human habitation are without privy Provisions or urinal accommodation or the existing accommodation is, in the opinion for privy and urinal of the Mayor-in-Council, insufficient, inefficient or for sanitary reasons accommoda- objectionable, the Mayor-in-Council may, by a written notice, require the tion in premises owner of such premises to—

where accommoda-

(a) provide such privy or such additional privy or urinal tion is not accommodation as it may decide, or

provided or is insuffi-

(b) make such structural or other alterations in the existing privy dent. or urinal accommodation as it may decide, or

(c) substitute, notwithstanding the provisions contained in section 154, any service privy or service urinal accommodation by connected privy or connected urinal accommodation where there is underground sewerage system, and by septic-tank privy or septic-tank urinal accommodation where there is no underground sewerage system,

within ninety days of such notice.

E. Cesspools and other filth receptacles.

157.— (1) No person shall construct a cesspool—

(a) beneath any part of any building or within fifteen metres of any tank, reservoir, water source or well; or

(b) upon any site or in any position in Howrah which has not been approved in writing by the Commissioner; or

(c) upon any site or in any position outside Howrah which has not been so approved and is situated within ninety metres of any reservoir used for storage of filtered water to be supplied to Howrah.

Position of,

cesspools.

337

House- drains, etc. to be subject to survey and control of the

Corporation. Power of

Corporation to grant

Licence to plumbers. The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X.—Water Supply and Drainage.—E. Cesspools and other filth receptacles.— Sections 158, 159.—Chapter XI—Streets and public places.—Section 160.)

(2) The Commissioner may at any time by a written notice require the owner of the premises in which any cesspool has been constructed in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) to remove such cesspool and to fill up the cesspool with such materials as may be approved by him.

158. All house-drains, within as well as without the premises to which they belong, and all cesspools, privies and urinals shall, as respects their site, construction, materials and dimension and arrangements for flushing the same, be under the survey and the control of the Corporation and subject to such regulations as the Corporation may make in this behalf.

159. (1) The Corporation may, from time to time, grant to any person it thinks fit, a licence to act as a plumber for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Every such licence shall be granted in such manner and in such form and on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Corporation by regulations.

CHAPTER XI

Streets and public places. Vesting of

public

streets in the

Corporation.

160. (1) All public streets, squares, parks and gardens (not being the property of, and kept under the control of, Government or the Board of Trustees for the Improvement of Howrah) including the soil, sub-soil and the side-drains, footways, pavements, trees, stones and other materials, implements and other things provided for such streets and other public places, which are situated in Howrah, shall vest in the Corporation.

2) Whenever the Corporation proposes to determine the name by which any public street or public place is to be known or to change the name of any public street or public place, it shall refer the proposal to an Advisory Committee constituted under sub-section (3) for its consideration.

(3) The State Government shall, by notification, constitute an Advisory Committee for naming, or changing the name of, any public street or square in Howrah. The Advisory Committee shall consist of such number of persons, not exceeding eight but not less than five, as the State Government may think fit.

338

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.

LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter XL—Streets and public places.—Sections 161-164.)

161. The Corporation shall cause all public streets vested in it under section 160 to be maintained by the Commissioner who shall for this purpose do all things necessary for the public safety and convenience including the construction and maintenance of the bridges, causeways and culverts.

162. The Corporation may lay out and make new public streets, construct bridges and sub-ways, classify public streets into different categories, turn or divert any existing public street, prescribe a regular line for streets or buildings on one or both sides of any public street and take steps in pursuance of a plan for improvement of streets and street alignments and may, by regulation, make provisions in this regard.

163. (1) No person shall except with the permission of the Commissioner cause any obstruction to or encroachment upon or projection over or otherwise occupy and portion of any public street or other public place.

(2) When any verandah, platform, building or other structure or any fixture attached to a building so as to form part of the building (whether erected before or after the commencement of this Act) causes a projection, encroachment or obstruction over or on any public street or other public place vested in the Corporation, the Commissioner, in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Corporation, may, by a written notice, require the owner or the occupier of the building to remove or alter such verandah, platform, building or other structure of fixture.

164. The Commissioner may, without notice, cause to be removed—

(a) any wall, fence, rail, post, step, booth or other structure or fixture which may be erected or set up in or upon any street, footpath or upon or over any open channel, drain, well or tank contrary to the provisions of this Act;

(b) any stall, chair, bench, box, ladder, bale, board or shelf, or any other thing whatsoever placed, deposited, projected, attached or suspended in, upon, from or to any place in contravention of the provisions of this Act;

(c) any article whatsoever hawked or exposed for sale in any public place or in any public street or footpath in contravention of the provisions of this Act and any vehicle, package, box, board, shelf or any other thing in or on which sucn at iicic^is placed or kept for the purpose of sale, display, or otherwise. Functions of

the

Commis-

sioner in

respect of

public

streets.

Power to

make new

public

streets, etc.

Power of

Corporation

to remove or

alter

verandah,

etc. or

fixtures

attached to

buildings

which

project, etc.,

over public

street.

Power to

move

anything

erected,

deposited or

hawked in

contraven-

tion of this

Act.

339

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter XL—Streets and public places.—Sections 165-167.)

Prohibition

of tethering

of animals

and milking

of cattle.

Power of

Corporation

to specify

building line

and street-

alignment.

Power of the

Commis-

sioner to

authorise

temporary

construction

or temporary

closure of

parts of

public

streets.

165. (1) No person shall tether any animal or cause or permit any animal to be tethered or strayed in any public street or other public place.

(2) No person shall milk or cause or permit to be milked any cow or buffalo or other animal in any street or other public place.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Commissioner may cause to be removed or impounded any animal tethered or being milked or found straying in any street or other public place.

166. (1) If the Corporation considers it expedient to prescribe a regular line for streets or buildings on one or both sides of any public street or portion thereof, it shall give a public notice of its intention to do so.

(2) Every such notice shall specify the period within which objections will be received by the Corporation and a copy of the notice shall be sent by post to every owner of the premises abutting on such public street who is registered in respect of such premises in the books of the Corporation.

(3) The Corporation shall consider all objections received by it within the specified period and make an order specifying a building-line or a street-alignment or both for such public street. Every such order shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall take effect from the date of such publication.

(4) A register or book with plans attached shall be kept by the Corporation showing all public streets in respect of which a building-line or a street-alignment has been specified and such register shall contain such particulars as may appear to the Commissioner to be necessary and shall be open to inspection by the public on payment of prescribed fee.

(5) Whenever it is proposed to repair, re-build, remove, construct or re-construct any building or portion thereof abutting on a public street in respect of which a building-line or street-alignment has been specified by an order, the Commissioner may give direction for setting back or setting forward all such buildings or portions thereof in such manner as may be determined by regulation.

167. The Commissioner may authorise temporary construction on, or temporary closure of, any part of a public street on such occasions and on such conditions and for such period as the Corporation may provide by regulation made in this behalf

340

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter XL—Streets and public places.—Sections 168-170.)

168. Subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, the State Government may, by rules, provide for—

(a) sanction by the Corporation of specific rights of way in the sub-soil of public and private streets in Howrah for different public utilities including electric supply, telephone and other tele-communication facilities, gas pipes, water-supply, sewerage and drainage, pedestrian sub-ways, shopping plazas, warehousing facilities and the apparatus and appurtenances related thereto provided by the State Government, any statutory body or any licensee uner any law;

(b) levy of any fee or charges permissible under law;

(c) furnishing to the Corporation of maps, drawings and statements which shall enable it to compile and maintain the precise records of the placements of the underground utilities in Howrah.

169. The Commissioner may, with the prior approval of the Mayor-in- Council, close any portion of a public street and declare it as a parking area and charge parking fees at different rates for different vehicles for different areas and for different periods in accordance with such regulation as may be made in this behalf.

170. (1) If the owner of any land utilizes, sells, leases or otherwise disposes of such land or any portion thereof as plots for the construction of buildings thereon, he shall lay down and make street or streets giving access to the plots into which the land may be divided and connecting such street or streets with any existing public street or private street.

(2) Before utilising, selling or otherwise disposing of any land under sub-section (1), the owner thereof shall send to the Commissioner a written application with a lay-out plan of the land showing the following particulars:—

(a) the plots into which the land is proposed to be divided for the erection of buildings thereon and the purpose or purposes for which such buildings are to be used;

(b) the reservation or allotment of any site for any street, open space, park, recreation ground, school, market or any other public purpose;

(d) the regular line of street or streets;

(e) the arrangements to be made for levelling, paving, metalling, flagging, channelling, sewering, draining, conserving and lighting street or streets.

Rights of

way for

underground

utilities.

Closure of

public street

for parking

purposes.

Owner's

obligation to

make a

street where

dealing with

land as

building site.

341

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V—Civic Services.—Chapter XL—Streets and public places.—Section 171.—Lighting.—Section 172.)

(3) No deed of transfer shall be registered under any law for the time being in force for any land governed by this section until the layout plans have been approved by the Commissioner and all infrastructural constructions completed up to a stage to the satisfaction of the Commissioner in accordance with such regulation as may be made in this behalf. Prohibition 171. No person shall make any new street without the prior approval of making

of the May or-in-Council. new streets.

Lighting.

Provision for

lighting of

public

streets,

squares,

gardens,

markets, and

buildings.

172. (1) The Corporation shall—

(a) take measures for lighting, in a suitable manner, the public streets, squares and gardens, municipal markets and all buildings vested in the Corporation;

(b) procure, erect and maintain such number of lamps, lamp- posts, other appurtenances as may be necessary for such lighting; and

(c) cause such lamps to be lighted by means of oil, gas, electricity or such other means as the Corporation may from time to time determine.

(2) The Corporation may itself or in conjunction with any firm or company and in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Corporation, erect plants and machineries for the generation of power and production of gas for the purpose of lighting.

(3) The Corporation may place and maintain—

(i) electric wires or gas-pipes for the purpose of lighting such lamps under, over, along or across any immovable property, and

(ii) posts, poles, standards, stays, struts, brackets, tunnels, culverts or any other contrivance for carrying, suspending or supporting such lamps, gas-pipes or electric wires in or upon any immovable property:

Provided that such pipes, wires, posts, poles, standards, stays, struts, brackets, tunnels, culverts or other contrivance shall be so placed as to occasion as little damage, detriment, inconvenience or nuisance to any person as the circumstances permit.

342

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Pan V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X11.—Buildings.— Sections 173-177.)

CHAPTER XII

Buildings.

173. No person shall use any piece of land as a site for erection of a new building except in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of the rules and the regulations made under this Act in relation to such erection of building.

174. Every person who intends to erect a building shall apply for sanction by giving notice in writing of his intention to the Commissioner in such form and containing such information or document as may be prescribed.

175. The Commissioner shall sanction the erection of building ordinarily within a period of sixty days unless any further information or document be called for or sanction be refused in the meantime on such grounds as may be prescribed:

Provided that a provisional sanction may be given for the erection of a building for the use of which a licence or permission is required from any department of Government or statutory body under any law for the time being in force in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed:

Provided further that if it appears to the Commissioner that the site of the proposed building is likely to be affected by any scheme of acquisition of land for any public purpose or by any proposed regular line of public street or extension, improvement, widening or alteration of any street, the Commissioner may withhold sanction to the erection of the building for a period not exceeding eight months.

176. After a building plan is sanctioned the person who has given the notice shall commence work and complete the same within such period or extended period as may be prescribed.

177. (1) Where the erection of any building or the execution of any work in pursuance thereof has been commenced, or is being carried on, or has been completed without or contrary to the sanction or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules and the regulations made thereunder, the Commissioner may in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, make an order directing that such erection or work shall be stopped or demolished or such addition or alteration thereto be made as the Commissioner considers necessary, by the person at whose instance the erection or the work has been commenced, or is being carried on, or has been completed:

Provided that no order under this provision shall be made unless such person has been given areasonable opportunity of being heard in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.

Use of land

for erection

of new

building.

Application

for sanction

for erection

of building.

Sanction or

provisional

sanction of

refusal of

erection of

building.

Period for

completion

of building.

Order of

demolition

or stoppage

of buildings

and works.

343

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

Completion

certificate.

Prohibition

on change of

use of

building.

Power to

order

removal of

dangerous

buildings.

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter Hr.—Buildings — Sections 178-180.)

(2) The Commissioner may make an order under sub-section (1), notwithstanding the fact that the assessment of such building has been made for the levy of the consolidated rate on lands and buildings.

(3) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commissioner made under sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the date of the order, prefer an appeal against the order to the Municipal Building Tribunal appointed under this Chapter.

(4) No court shall have jurisdiction in any matter for which provision is made under this Chapter for appeal to the Municipal Building Tribunal.

(5) If a person fails to comply with a conclusive order of the Commissioner or the Tribunal, as the case may be, under this section, the Commissioner may himself cause the order to be carried out and recover the expenses thereof from such person as an arrear of tax under this Act.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, if the Mayor- in-Council is of the opinion that immediate action is called for in relation to a building or any work being carried on in contravention of the provisions of this Chapter, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, cause such building or work to be demolished forthwith.

178. No new building or a part of a new building shall be occupied for use until and unless a certificate of completion of the building or a part of it has been submitted to the Corporation.

179. (1) No person shall without any written permission of the Commissioner change or allow the change of the use of any building for any purpose other than that specified in the sanction or convert or allow the conversion of a tenement under a particular occupancy or use group to be a tenement under another occupancy or use group.

(2) In case the Commissioner refuses to give such permission he shall give a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the person seeking permission.

(3) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commissioner under sub- section (2) may, within thirty days from the date of the order, prefer an appeal before the Municipal Building Tribunal.

180. (1) If it appears to the Commissioner at any time that any building is in a ruinous condition or is in any way dangerous, the Commissioner may by an order require the owner or the occupier of such building to demolish, secure or repair such building.

344

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter Sections 181, 182.)

(2) If it appears to the Commissioner that the danger from such building is imminent, he may, before making the order as aforesaid, take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the danger.

(3) If the owner or the occupier of the building does not comply with the order under this section, the Commissioner shall take such step in relation to the building as may be necessary to prevent any cause of danger therefrom.

(4) All expenses incurred by the Commissioner, in relation to any building, under this section shall be recoverable from the owner or the occupier thereof, as the case may be, as an arrear of tax under this Act.

181. (1) The State Government shall appoint a Municipal Building Tribunal for Howrah to hear and decide appeals under this Chapter.

(2) The Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman and two Assessors.

(3) The Chairman shall be an officer of the West Bengal Higher Judicial Service having such experience as may be prescribed.

(4) One of the Assessors shall be appointed by the State Government and the other shall be appointed by the Corporation:

Provided that no Councillor, Alderman or officer or employee of the Corporation shall be appointed as an Assessor.

(5) The Chairman and the Assessors shall be appointed for such period and on such terms and conditions as the State Government may, by notification, specify.

(6) The Chairman of the Tribunal shall appoint and maintain such officers and employees in his establishment and on such terms and conditions of service as may be prescribed.

(7) The business of the Tribunal shall be conducted in such manner as the President of the Tribunal may, from time to time, with the previous approval of the State Government, determine.

(8) All expenses of the Tribunal shall be paid out of the Municipal Fund.

(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the State Government may appoint for Howrah any other Municipal Building Tribunal under any other law in force for the time being and such Tribunal shall exercise powers of the Tribunal under this Chapter. Municipal

Building

Tribunal for

Howrah.

182. The Commissioner may, from time to time and in such manner as Licensed Buiing may be prescribed, grant licence to a person to act as a Licensed Building Archi

tect

Architect or a Licensed Building Surveyor for the purpose of this Chapter. and Licensed

Building

Surveyor.

345

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X11.—Buildings.— Section 183.—Chapter XIII—Bustees.—Sections 184, 185.) Municipal

Building

Code.

183. The State Government may make rules for—

(a) regulation or restriction of the use of site of the building,

(b) regulation of fire protection measures and structural and other safeties of the building,

(c) regulation of conveniences and amenities in the building including quality of materials, plumbing services, workmanship and the like,

(d) regulation of architectural designs of buildings, and

(e) regulation of building uses for the purpose of residence, hospitals, nursing homes, factories, ware-houses, eating houses, theatres, cinemas, commercial institutions, educational buildings and the like.

CHAPTER XIII

Bustees. Power of 184. The Corporation may define the external limits of any bustee and Corporation

to define and may from time to time alter such limits.

alter limit of

bustees.

Power of 185. (1) The Corporation may, with the approval of the State Corporation Government, prepare and execute improvement scheme for the purpose of to prepare and execute effecting environmental or general improvement of bustees. Such scheme improve-

ment may provide for water-supply, sanitation, pathways, lighting and the like. schemes of

bustees. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained hereinbefore the Commissioner may, for reasons of environmental sanitation, cause the following works to be executed in any bustee:—

(a) Sinking of tubewells inside a bustee including laying of water-pipe lines, installation of overhead reservoirs and other appurtenances necessary to maintain flushing for privies and sewers.

(b) Laying of drains and diversion of existing drains.

(d) Removal of solid or liquid wastes from the bustees including removal of silt from sewers, sludge from septic tanks or cleansing of squating platforms.

(e) Repair work relating to any of the above activities.

346

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter X111.—Bustees.— Sections 186, I87.—Chapter XIV—Solid Wastes.—Section 188.) West Ben.

Act II of

1949.

186. If, at any time, it becomes necessary to acquire the right of user in any land in or around any bustee for the purpose of effecting improvement, the Corporation shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed:

Provided that the compensation payable to any person whose right of enjoyment in such land has been prejudicially effected by such acquisition shall be calculated at ten per cent of the market value of such land on the date the Corporation declares its intention to acquire such right.

187. Subject to the provisions of the Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949, the Corporation' ay sanction building plans submitted by a thika tenant for the purpose of permanent construction in the nature of renovations, additions and alterations to and conversion of the existing huts into pucca structures and also for construction of new structures under such building regulation and upon payment of such fees as may be determined by the Corporation by regulation:

Provided that a lay-out plan of abustee or such substantial unfragmented portion thereof as is in actual occupation of the thika tenant or a group of thika tenants occupying contiguous parcels of lands in terms of leave and licence granted by the landlord has been prepared and submitted to the Corporation to indicate the existing arrangements of huts, streets, pathways, drains and other common facilities along with the proposed alterations and modifications thereto.

Power of

Corporation

to acquire

the right of

user in land

in or around

a bustee.

Sanction of

building

plans

submitted by

thika

tenants.

CHAPTER XIV

Solid Wastes.

188. (1) For the purpose of securing efficient scavenging and cleansing of all streets, public places and premises in Howrah, the Corporation shall undertake the function of collection, removal and disposal of solid wastes.

(2) All matters deposited in public receptacles, depots ,and places provided or appointed by the Corporation for collection of solid wastes shall be the property of the Corporation.

(3) The Corporation may, by regulation, specify the duties of the owners or occupiers of the premises in the matter of collection of solid wastes and different provisions may be made for premises in different types of occupational uses.

(4) The Corporation shall provide vehicles or other suitable means for removal of solid wastes.

(5) The Corporation shall provide or appoint in proper and convenient situations public receptacles, depots and places for the temporary deposit of solid wastes including rubbish, carcasses and other offensive matters. Collection,

removal and

disposal of

solid wastes.

347

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter XV.—Inspection and regulation of premises and of factories, work-shops and places of public resort—Sections 189, 190.)

Procedure in

cases of

buildings

deemed unfit

for human

habitation.

Warehouse,

godowns,

etc. not to be

established

without

permission.

(6) The Corporation may dispose of the solid wastes in such manner as may be approved by the State Government and at such place within or outside Howrah as it considers suitable:

Provided that no place which has not been used before the commencement of this Act for the purpose of disposal of solid wastes shall be so used except in conformity with the provisions of the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979.

(7) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law in force for the time being, no methor or other employee of the Corporation who is employed to remove or otherwise to deal with different kinds of solid wastes shall, without giving the Commissioner any notice of his intention so to do or without the permission of the Commissioner, withdraw from his duties.

CHAPTER XV

Inspection and regulation of premises and of factories, work-shops and places of public resort.

189. If, for any reason, any building or portion of a building, intended for, or used as, a dwelling place appears to the Commissioner to be unfit for human habitation, he may, if he considers that the building or the portion thereof can be altered to make it fit for human habitation, by an order in writing require the owner of such building to make such alterations in the building or the portion thereof as he thinks necessary within a period specified in the order, where the Commissioner considers that the building or the portion thereof cannot be so altered as to make it fit for human habitation or where the building or the portion thereof is not so altered as required by the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall take such steps as may be necessary to enforce such order.

190. (1) No person shall, without the previous permission of the Commissioner, use or materially alter, enlarge or extend the use of any premises as a warehouse or godown or for running a goods transport business either by his own carriers or by arrangement with the owners of such carriers.

(2) The Commissioner may refuse to give such permission or impose such condition as it thinks fit, if in his opinion such use would be objectionable due to traffic constraints in the vicinity of such premises or inadequacy of space for parking of vehicles or loading or unloading of goods; or would constitute a fire hazard or other nuisance. West Ben.

Act XIII of

1979.

348

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—Chapter XV.—Inspection and regulation of premises and of factories, work-shops and places of public resort.—Sections 191-194.)

191. (1) No person shall, without the previous written permission of the Commissioner, establish in any premises, or materially alter, enlarge or extend, any factory or work-shop or work-place in which it is intended to employ steam, electricity, water or other mechanical power.

(2) The Commissioner may, in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Corporation, refuse to give permission under sub- section (1) if he is of opinion that the establishment, alteration, enlargement or extension of such factory, work-shop or work-place in the proposed position would be objectionable by reason of the density of the population in the neighbourhood thereof or would be nuisance to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood.

192. (1) No person shall, without or otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner in this behalf, keep any eating-house, tea-shop, hotel, boarding house, bakery, aerated water factory, ice factory or other place where food is sold or prepared for sale.

(2) The Commissioner may at any time cancel or suspend any licence granted under sub-section (1) if he is of opinion that the premises covered by it are not kept in conformity with the terms of such licence or the provisions of any rules and regulations, relating to such premises, whether the licence is proseCuted under this Act or not.

193. No person shall, without or otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner in this behalf, keep open any theatre, circus, cinema-house, dancing hall or other similar place of public resort, recreation or amusement:

Provided that this section shall not apply to private performances in any such place.

194. If the Commissioner is of opinion that any eating house, tea-shop, hotel, boarding house, bakery, aerated water factory, ice factory or other place where food is sold or prepared for sale or any theatre, circus, cinema- house, dancing hall or similar other place of public resort, recreation or amusement as the case may be, is kept open without or otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted under section 193 he may by an order in writing stop the use of any such premises. for any such purpose for such period as may be specified in the order after recording reasons or such opinion:

Provided that no such order shall be made until the licensee or other person keeping the premises so open has been given an opportunity of being heard.

Factory, etc.

not to be

established,

etc., without

permission

of the

Commis-

sioner.

Eating-

houses, etc.,

not to be

used without

licence from

Commis-

sioner.

Licensing

and control

of theatres,

circuses and

places of

public

amusement.

Power of

Commis-

sioner to

stop use of

premises

when used

without or

otherwise

than in

conformity

with terms

of licence.

349

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XVL—Markets and Slaughter-houses.-- Sections 195-198.)

CHAPTER XVI

Markets and Slaughter-houses. Power of

Corporation

to provide

and maintain

municipal

markets,

slaughter-

houses and

stock-yards.

Power of

Commis-

stoner to

license

private

markets, etc.

Licensing of

butchers and

of sale of

meat, etc.

outside

market.

Levy of

stallage, rent

and fee.

195. (1) The Corporation may own, purchase or take on lease any land or building for the purpose of establishing municipal market or slaughter-house or stock-yard or improving any existing municipal market, slaughter-house or stock-yard and make provision for their maintenance.

(2) The Corporation may aftergiving general notice close any municipal market or slaughter-house or stock-yard or any portion thereof and the premises occupied for any municipal market, slaughter-house or stock- yard or any portion thereof so closed shall be vacated by the occupants in accordance with such notice.

196. No person shall, without or otherwise than in conformity With the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner in this behalf, keep open any private market or wilfully or negligently permit any place to be used as a private market or use any place as a slaughter-house or stock-yard or for the slaughtering of any animal intended for human consumption.

197. No person shall, without or otherwise than in- conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner in this behalf,—

(a) carry on within Howrah or at any municipal slaughter-house without Howrah the trade or business of a butcher, or

(h) sell or expose or hawk about for sale any animal or any meat or fish intended for human consumption in any place other than a municipal market or a private market.

198. The Commissioner may, subject to the other terms and conditions as may he fixed,—

(a) charge such stallage, rent or fee as may, from time to time, be fixed by the Corporation in this behalf for the occupation or use of any stall, shop, stand, shed, pen or space in a municipal market or municipal slaughter-house,

(b) farm the stallage, rent or fee chargeable as aforesaid or any portion thereof for such period as he may think fit, and

(c) put up to public auction, or dispose of by private sale, the privilege of occupying or using any shop, stall, stand, shed, pen or space in a municipal market or municipal slaughter- house on such terms and conditions as he may think fit.

350

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V. Civic Services.—

Chapter XVL—Markets and Slaughter-houses.— Sections 199-201.—Food and drugs.—Sections 202-205.)

199. The Commissioner may, from time to time, subject to such directions as he may receive from the Mayor-in-Council on the advice of the State Government, open depots or shops for trading any essential commodities.

200. No person shall, without or otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner in this behalf,—

(a) hawk or expose for sale in any place any article whatsoever whether it be for human consumption or not; or

(h) use in any place his skill in any handicraft or render services to the public for their convenience for the purpose of gain or making a living.

Depots for

sale of

essential

commo-

dities.

Licence for

hawking,

etc.

201. No person shall, otherwise than in conformity with a licence from the Commissioner and other provisions as may be made by regula- tion by the Corporation in this behalf, carry on a trade of a butcher, fish monger, poulterer or importer of flesh intended for human food or use of any place for the sale of flesh, fish or poultry intended for human food. Food and drugs.

202. No person shall directly or indirectly, himself or by any other Prohibition f sale, etc. person on his behalf, sell, expose or hawk about for sale or manufacture or o of adui- store for the preparation of any food or drug or for sale any food or drug terated or which is adulterated or misbranded.

misbranded

food or drug.

203. Every manufactory of mustard oil, edible oil or edible fat or ghee Registration or butter within Howrah shall be registered by the owner or the person in of manufactory. charge thereof in the office of the Corporation in such manner as the Corporation may from time to time direct.

204. No person shall keep in any shop or place in which milk is stored Prohibition of adulte-

or in any manufactory, shop or Place, in which butter, ghee or any other rants in milk product or wheat, flour, mustard oil, tea, edible oil, edible fat, sugar place where butter,,

or gur is manufactured or stored, any substance intended to be used for the etc. areg hee purpose of adulteration.

manufac- tured or stored.

205. (1) Every place used for the manufacture, preparation, storage or Place of ma- packing for sale of any article of food or drug shall be open at all time for nufacture, preparation, inspection by the officers of the Corporation authorised in this behalf by etc. for sale the Commissioner and such officers shall have the right to enter into such of any drug or food to be places for such inspection at all time.

open to inspection. Licence for sale of fish, poultry or flesh.

351

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XV1.—Food and drugs.—Sections 206-209.)

(2) In every place used for manufacture, preparation, storage or packing for sale of any article of food or drug, such article of food or drug or any receptacle and material used for such manufacture, prepara- tion, storage or packing shall be protected from dust, flies and other insects by such measures as may be specified by the Corporation in this behalf.

Licensing of

shops and

places for

retail sale of

drugs.

Manufactory

or place of

storage or

sale of food

kept in

contraven-

tion of

provisions of

this Chapter

may be

closed.

Corporation

to take

measures for

prevention

and

checking of

dangerous

diseases.

206. (1) No person shall keep any shop or place for retail sale of drugs not being articles of ordinary domestic consumption without or otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Commissioner.

(2) Every person to whom a licence is granted under sub-section (1) in respect of any shop or place shall display it in some conspicuous part of such shop or place.

207. If any manufactory or place of storage or sale of any article of food is kept in contravention of the provisions of this Chapter the Commissioner may cause the same to be closed.

208. It shall be the duty of the Corporation to take such measures as are necessary for preventing or checking the spread of any dangerous disease in Howrak or of any epidemic disease among any animals therein.

Obligation

to give

information

of dangerous

diseases.

209. Any person being in charge of, or in attendance, whether as a medical practitioner or otherwise, upon, any person whom he knows or has reasons to believe to be suffering from a dangerous disease, shall forthwith give information respecting the existence of such disease to the Commissioner.

352

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Pail V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XVIL—Restraint of Infection—Sections 210-212.— Chapter XV111.—Registration of Births and Deaths and disposal of the dead.—Section 213.)

CHAP 1 ER XVII

Restraint of Infection.

210. The Commissioner or any person authorised by him in this behalf may, at any time by day or by night without notice or after giving such notice as may in the circumstances appear to him to be reasonable, inspect any place in which any dangerous disease is reported or suspected to exist and take such measures as he may think fit to prevent the spread of such disease beyond such place and shall forthwith submit a report to the State Government.

211. If the Commissioner or any person authorised by him in this behalf is of opinion that the cleaning or disinfecting of any building or any part of a building or any article therein which is likely to retain infection or of any tank, pool or well adjacent to a building is likely to prevent or check the spread of any dangerous disease, he may cleanse or disinfect such building or any part thereof, article, tank, pool or well and may by a written notice require the occupier of such building or any part thereof to vacate the same for such period as may be specified in such notice.

212. (1) If the Commissioner is of the opinion that the water in any well, tank or other place is likely, if used for drinking, to endanger or cause the spread of any disease, he may, by public notice, prohibit the removal of such water for drinking and by notice in writing require the owner or person having control of such well, tank or place to take such steps as he may consider expedient to prevent the public from having access to or from using such water.

(2) If Howrah or any part of it is visited or threatened by an outbreak of any dangerous disease, the Commissioner may, by public notice, restrict or prohibit the sale or preparation of any article of food or drink for human consumption.

CHAPTER XVIII

Registration of Births and Deaths and disposal of the dead.

213. (I) The Health Officer of the Corporation shall be the Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths in Howrah and shall keep in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the State Government a register of all births and deaths occurring in Howrah.

(2) The Corporation shall appoint a person to be the Registrar of Births and Deaths for each borough and may appoint the same person to be such Registrar for more than one borough. Power of

Commis-

sioner to

inspect

places and

take

measures to

prevent

spread of

dangerous

diseases.

Power of

Commis-

sinner to

disinfect

building,

tank, pool or

well.

Measures to

prevent

spread of

dangerous

disease.

Appoint-

ment of

Registrars

and Sub-

Registrars of

Births and

Deaths.

353

Registration of places for disposal of the dead. The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XV(11.—Registration of Births and Deaths and disposal of the dead—Section 214.—Chapter XIX.—Rules, regulations and by-laws.—Section 215.)

(3) The Commissioner shall appoint a Sub-Registrar of Births and Deaths for each registered burial or burning ground or other place for the disposal of the dead to register all corpses brought thereto for interment or cremation or for disposal otherwise:

Provided that the same Sub-Registrar may be appointed for more than one such burial or burning ground or other place.

(4) The Commissioner shall cause to be printed and published a list containing the name and address of every Registrar and Sub-Registrar appointed under this section.

(5) On an application from a person interested, the Chief Registrar or Registrar shall issue an extract from an entry in a register book of birth or death on payment of such fee as may be determined by regulation.

(6) The State Government may prescribe the manner in which and person by whom an information relating to birth and death should be civen to the Corporation.

214. (1) Every owner or keeper of a place not vested in or owned by the Corporation or a Board appointed by the State Government for the administration of such place, which is used for burying, burning or otherwise disposing of the dead, shall cause the same to be registered in a register which shall be kept by the Commissioner and shall deposit to the office of the Corporation at the time of registration a plan of such place prepared by a surveyor.

(2) All burial and burning grounds, public or private, shall be registered in the book of the Corporation in such manner as may be determined by regulation.

CHAPTER XIX

Rules, regulations and by-laws. Power to

make rules. 215. (1) The State Government may, after previous publication 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 all or any of the matters which under any provision of this Act are required to be prescribed or to be prescribed or to be provided for by rules.

354

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 19804

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XIX.—Rules, regulations and by-laws.— Sections 216-219.)

(3) All rules made under this Act shall be laid for not less than fourteen days before the State Legislature as soon as possible after they are made and shall be subject to such modifications as the State Legislature may make during the session in which they are so laid. Any modification of the said rules made by the State Legislature shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall, unless some later date is appointed by the State Government, come into force on the date of such publication.

216. (1) The Corporation may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, make regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder for discharging its functions under this Act.

(2) Such regulations may provide that any breach thereof shall be punishable with such fine as may be specified therein.

(3) Such regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette.

217. (1) The Corporation may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, make by-laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, or the rules or the regulations made thereunder for discharging its functions under this Act.

(2) Such by-laws may provide that any breach thereof shall be punishable with such fine as may be specified therein.

(3) Such by-laws shall be published in the Official Gazette and in such local newspapers as the Corporation may determine.

218. (1) If the State Government is at any time of opinion that any regulation or by-law made by the Corporation should be cancelled or modified either wholly or in part, it shall cause the reasons for such opinion to be communicated to the Corporation, and shall appoint a reasonable period within the Corporation may make any representation with regard thereto.

(2) After expiry of such period and on consideration of the representation of the Corporation, if any, the State Government may at any time by notification cancel or modify such regulation or by-law either wholly or in part.

(3) Any notification under sub-section (2) shall be published in local newspapers.

Power to

make

regulations.

Power to

make by-

laws.

Power of

State

Government

to cancel or

modify

regulations

and by-laws.

219. The State Government may, on the recommendation of the Schedules. Corporation, by notification add to, amend or alter any Schedule, to this Act except Schedule I.

355

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XX.—Miscellaneous provisions.— Sections 220-225.)

CHAPTER XX

Miscellaneous Provisions. Punishment

for offences

as given in

Schedule V.

Acquisition

of property.

Inventory of

property.

Disposal of

property.

Entry and

inspection.

Police

Officers to

assist the

Corporation,

Mayor-in-

Council,

Commis-

smiler, etc.

220. Whoever contravenes any provision of any of the sections, sub- sections, clauses, or provisos or any other provision of this Act mentioned in column I of Schedule V shall be punishable with fine which may extend to the amount, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to the period, specified in that behalf in column 3 of the said Schedule or with both, and in the case of a continuing contravention or failure, with an additional fine which may extend to the amount specified in column 4 of the said Schedule for every day of such contravention or failure after conviction for the first such contravention or failure.

221. The Corporation shall, for the purpose of this Act, have power to acquire and hold movable or immovable property or any interest therein, whether within or outside the limits of Howrah.

222. The Commissioner shall maintain an inventory of the movable and immovable properties of the Corporation in such form and manner as may be determined by the Corporation by regulation.

223. The Corporation may dispose of, by sale or otherwise, any movable or immovable property belonging to the Corporation in such manner as may be prescribed.

224. (I) The Commissioner or any other officer or employee of the Corporation, authorised by the Commissioner or empowered under this Act in this behalf, may enter into or upon any land or building with or without assistance for the purpose of enquiry, inspection, execution of any work or discharge of any function authorised under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder.

(2) It shall be lawful for the Commissioner or any person authorised by him in this behalf to make forcible entry into any land or building or break open any door, gate or other barrier, if the same is considered necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act, after calling upon two or more respectable inhabitants of the locality to witness such entry or opening.

225. It shall be the duty of every police officer in or outside Howrah to assist the Corporation, the Mayor-in-Council, the Commissioner or any other officer or employee of the Corporation in the discharge of any of the powers, duties and functions under this Act or any rule or regulation made thereunder as and when such assistance is called for.

356

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Part V.—Civic Services.—

Chapter XX.—Miscellaneous Provisions.— Sections 226, 227.—Schedule 1.)

226. Any suit or legal proceeding instituted or which, but for the Saving as to passing of this Act, would have been instituted, by or against the Howrah certain suits

and

Municipality may be continued or instituted by the Corporation or the proceedings. Commissioner, as the case may be, constituted or appointed under this Act.

227. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, as occasion may require, by order, do or cause to be done anything which may be necessary for removing the difficulty.

SCHEDULE I

[See section 2(4).] Boundaries of the Corporation Starting from Mouza Baltikuri where it meets Howrah Municipal boundary, thence along eastward all along the southern boundary of Bally Municipality (up to river Hooghly) in the East from the water edge at lowest tide of river Hooghly and westward along its water edge at lowest tide of northern bank to the point where it meets the eastern boundary of Mouza Podda in Sankrail police-station; thence northward along the western boundary of Mouza Goabaria and Mouza Thana Makua; thence along the western boundary of Mouza Sultanpur and westward along the southern boundary of Unsani and Puilya; thence along the western and northern boundary of Puilya up to its meeting point with the western boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence northward along the western boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to the Howrah Drainage Canal; thence crossing the canal along the northern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to its meeting point with Mouza Jagacha; thence northward along the western boundary of Mouza Jagacha and Mouza Dharsa up to its meeting point with Mouza Baltikuri; thence along the western boundary of Mouza Baltikuri and eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Baltikuri up to the point where it meets Mouza Kona; thence towards the western boundary of Mouza Kona up to its meeting point with Chakpara; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Kona; thence southward along the eastern boundary of Mouza Kona to the point where it meets Mouza Baltikuri; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Baltikuri to the points where it meets Howrah Municipal boundary.

Removal of

difficulty.

357

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980, [West Ben. Act

(Schedule II.)

SCHEDULE II

[See section 5(2).] Wards of the Corporation Boundaries

Ward No. 1

Along northern boundary of Girish Ghosh Bye Lane, Joya Bibi Road, then towards north through Joya Bibi Lane and to the east along imaginary line through New Central Jute Mill in the north up to the river side, then on the east along the river side up to Banerjee Ghat Road, thence on the south along Banerjee Ghat Road up to J. N. Mukherjee Road, thence on the west along J. N. Mukherjee Road and along Girish Ghosh Lane up to Girish Ghosh Bye Lane.

Ward No. 2

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (North) and Thakurdas Surekha Road (Guha Road), along northern boundary Thakurdas Surekha Road up to Girish Ghosh Lane, thence along the western side of Girish Ghosh Lane and J. N. Mukherjee Road up to the junction of Naskarpara Road, thence along Naskarpara Road up to G. T. Road (North), thence towards north along western boundary of G. T. Road (North) up to Thakurdas Surekha Road.

Ward No. 3

Starting from G. T. Road (North) and Naskarpara Road along the southern side of Naskarpara Road up to the junction of Nabin Ghosh Lane, thence along the western side of Nabin Ghosh Lane and Moti Chand Road up to its junction with Shiba Gopal Banerjee Lane; thence along the western side of Shiba Gopal Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Sreeram Dhang Road; thence along the northern side of Sreeram Dhang Road up to the junction of Rash Behari Ghosal Lane, thence along the eastern side of Rash Behari Ghosal Lane and Lal Behari Bose Lane up to the junction of G. T. Road (North), and thence along the eastern side of G. T. Road (North) up to the junction of Naskarpara Road. Ward No. 4

Starting from the junction of Nabin Ghosh Lane and Naskarpara Road along the southern side of Naskarpara Road to its junction with

358

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.

LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IL) J. N. Mukheijee Road; thence along the western side of J. N. Mukherjee Road up to its junction with Baneijee Ghat Road, thence along the southern side of Banerjee Ghat Road, up to river thence along the river in the east up to Kissenlal Burman Road; thence along the northern side of Kissenlal Burman Road and Sri Aurobindo Road up to its junction with Sambhu Halder Lane; thence along Sambhu Haider Lane to its junction with Bhairab Ghatak Lane; thence along the east side of Bhairab Ghatak Lane up to its junction with Sreeram Dhang Road; thence along Sreeram Dhang Road up to Shiba Gopal Banerjee Lane, thence along Shiba Gopal Banerjee Lane up to Moti Chand Road, thence along Moti Chand Road and Nabin Ghosh Lane up to its junction with

Naskarpara Road.

Ward No. 5

Starting from the junction of Sri Aurobindo Road and G. T. Road (North), along eastern side of G. T. Road (North) up to its junction with Lal Behari Bose Lane; thence along the southern side of Lal Behari Bose Lane up to Rash Behari Ghosal Lane, thence along the eastern side of Rash Behari Ghosal Lane up to its junction with Sreeram Dhang Road, thence along southern side of Sreeram Dhang Road up to the junction of Bhairab Ghatak Lane; thence along the western side of Bhairab Ghatak Lane up to Sri Aurobindo Road, thence along Sri Aurobindo Road up to G. T. Road (North).

Ward No. 6

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (North) and Kali Mazumdar Road along Kali Mazumdar Road up to the Eastern Railway lines; thence along the Railway lines up to its meeting point with Municipal Drain; thence along the northern side of Municipal Drain up to its junction of Kaibartapara Lane and Mohinath Porel Lane; thence along the eastern side of Mohinath Porel Lane up to its junction with Ghosepara Lane; thence along the eastern side of Ghosepara Lane up to its junction with Beneras Road; thence along the northern side of Beneras Road up to the junction with G. T. Road (North); thence along the western side of G. T. Road up to its junction with Kali Mazumdar Road.

Ward No. 7

Starting from Eastern Railway lines at the north towards west along the Municipal boundary up to the Municipal Drain (Khal); thence along

the eastern side of the drain up to its crossing with Beneras Road; thence along the northern side of Beneras Road up to Ghosepara Lane; thence

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West lien. Act

(Schedule IL)

along the western side of Ghosepara Lane up to its junction with Mohinath Porel Lane; thence along the western. side of Mohinath Porel Lane up to its junction with Kaibartapara Lane and Municipal Drain; thence along the southern side of Municipal Drain up to its meeting point with Eastern Railway lines; thence along the Railway lines up to its meeting point with the Howrah Municipal boundary from where it starts.

Ward No. 8

Starting from the junction of Beneras Road and F. Road along the western side of F. Road up to the Howrah Municipal boundary at the north; thence along the Howrah Municipal boundary at the north and west up to its meeting point with T. Road and thence along the northern side of T. Road up to its junction with Q. Road along the eastern side of Q. Road up to its junction with S. Road; thence along the northern side of S. Road up to the junction of Natabar Paul Road; thence along the western side of Natabar Paul Road up to its junction with Beneras Road.

Ward No. 9

Starting from the junction of F. Road and Beneras Road along the eastern side of F. Road up to the Howrah Municipal boundary at the north; thence eastward along the northern boundary of the Corporation up to the Municipal Drain (Khal); thence along the western side of Municipal Drain (Khal) up to its crossing with Beneras Road; thence along the southern side of Beneras Road up to Eastern Railway lines; thence southward along the Eastern Railway lines to its meeting points with South Eastern Railway lines; thence along the South Eastern Railway lines up to the Howrah Municipal boundary; thence northward along the Howrah Municipal boundary to its meeting point with T. Road; thence along the southern side of T. Road up to its junction with Q. Road; thence along the western side of Q. Road up to its junction with S. Road; thence along the southern side of S. Road up to its junction with Natabar Paul Road; thence along the eastern side of Natabar Paul Road up to the junction of Beneras Road.

Ward No. 10

Starting from the eastern side of Eastern Railway lines towards east along southern side of Beneras Road up to the junction of G. T. Road (North); thence along the western side of G. T. Road up to its junction with Bliairab Dutta Lane; thence along the northern side of Bhairab Dutta Lane up to its meeting points with Eastern Railway lines; thence north- ward along the Eastern Railway lines to Beneras Road.

360

The Hawrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IL)

Ward No. 11

From the river Hooghly and its meeting point with Chhatu Babu's Ghat Lane along northern side of Chhatu Babu's Ghat Lane to its junction with Kshetra Mitra Lane; thence along the northern side of Kshetra Mitra Lane to its junction with Madan Biswas Lane; thence along the northern side of Madan Biswas Lane up to the junction of Sri Aurobindo Road; thence along the southern side of Sri Aurobindo Road to the southern side of Kishen Lal Burman Road up to the river Hooghly.

Ward No. 12

Starting from the river Hooghly along the northern side of Dr. Abani Dutta Road up to its junction with Ramlal Mukheijee Lane, thence along eastern side of Ramlal Mukherjee Lane up to Jeliapara Lane, thence along the southern side of Jeliapara Lane up to its junction with Sailendra Nath Bose Road, thence along the western side of Sailendra Nath Bose Road up to G. T. Road (North), thence along eastern side of G.3. Road (North) up to Sri Aurobindo Road. thence along southern side of Sri Aurobindo Road, up to Madan Biswas Lane, thence along western side of Madan Biswas Lane up to Kshetra Mitra Lane, thence along southern side of Kshetra Mitra Lane and Chhatu Babu's Ghat Lane up to the river Hooghly, thence along the river Hooghly up to Dr. Abani Dutta Road.

Ward No. 13

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (North) and Dr. Abani Dutta Road along the southern side of Dr. Abani Dutta Road up to the junction to Banshi Dhar Jalan Road; thence along the western side of Banshi Dhar Jalan Road up to junction of Kings Road; thence along the northern side of Kings Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (North); thence along the eastern, side of G. T. Road (North) up to the junction of Dr. Abani Dutta Read.

Ward No. 14

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (North) and Han Mohan Bose Road along the southern side of Hari Mohan Bose Road up to the junction of Abul Kai= Azad Road, thence along the eastern side of Abul Kalam Azad Road up to the junction of Kings Road; thence along the southern side of Kings Road up to its junction with Banshi Dhar Jalan Road; thence along the eastern side of Banshi Dhar Jalan Road up its junction with Golabari Ghat Road; thence along the southern side

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(Schedule II.)

of Golabari Ghat Road up to the river Hooghly; thence along the river Hooghly to its meeting point with Nityadhan Mukherjee Road; thence along the northern side of Nityadhan Mukherjee Road to its junction with Rishi Bankim Chandra Road; thence along the eastern side of Rishi Bankim Chandra Road up to its junction with Mahatma Gandhi Road; thence along the northern side of Mahatma Gandhi Road up to the junction of Church Road; thence along the eastern side of Church Road up to its junction with G. T. Road; thence along the eastern side of G. T. Road (South); thence to the eastern side of G. T. Road (North) up to the junction of Hari Mohan Bose Road.

Ward No. 15

Starting from the junction of Ramlal Mukherjee Lane and Dr. Abani Dutta Road, along the northern side of Dr. Abani Dutta Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (North); thence southwards along the western side of G. T. Road (North) up to its junction with Pilkhana 3rd Bye Lane; thence along northern side of Pilkhana 3rd Bye Lane up to its junction with Banwari Lal Roy Road; thence straight through Banwari Lal Roy Road and Fakir Bagan Lane up to Eastern Railway lines; thence northward along the Railway lines up to its meeting points with Bhairab Dutta Lane; thence along southern side and eastern side of Bhairab Dutta Lane up to G. T. Road (North), thence crossing G. T. Road (North) along Sailendra Nath Bose Road up to Jeliapara Lane, thence along Jeliapara Lane up to the junction with Ramlal Mukherjee Lane, thence along Ramlal Mukherjee Lane up to Dr. Abani Dutta Road.

Ward No. 16

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (North), and Pilkhana Third Lane along the southern side of Pilkhana Third Lane up to Banwari Lal Roy Road; thence along the southern side of Banwari Lal Roy Road up to its junction with Fakir Bagan Lane; thence along the southern side of Fakir Bagan Lane up to Eastern Railway lines; thence southward along the Eastern Railway lines to its crossing with G. T. Road (South); thence along the western side of G. T. Road (North) up to its junction with Hari Mohan Bose Road; thence along the northern side of Hari Mohan Bose Road up to its junction with Abul Kalam Azad Road; thence along the western side of Abul Kalam Azad Road up to its junction with King's Road; thence along the southern side of King's Road up to the junction of G. T. Road (North); thence northward along the western side of G. T. Road (North) up to its junction with Pilkhana Third Lane.

362

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule 11.)

Ward No. 17

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (South) along the northern side of Nityadhan Munkerjee Road up to Rishi Bankim Chandra Road; thence along the western side of Rishi Bankim Chandra Road up to its junction with Mahatma Gandhi Road; thence along the southern side of Mahatma Gandhi Road up to its junction with Biplabi Harendra Nath Ghosh Sarani (Church Road); thence along eastern and northern side of Biplabi Harendra Nath Ghosh Sarani up to the junction of G. T. Road (South), thence along western side of G. T. Road (South) to the Eastern Railway lines; thence along a direct line parallel to Eastern Railway lines up to the point from where Belilious Road proceeding westward from northward (just in front of the northern gate of the old Howrah Maidan Station), thence along the northern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with M. C. Ghosh Lane; thence alongwith the eastern side of M. C. Ghosh Lane up to the junction of Panchanantala Road; thence crossing the road along the eastern side of Sadar Buxi Lane up to Joynarayan Santra Lane, thence along Joynarayan Santra Lane to Ainuddin Ghat Majhi Lane, thence along the eastern side of Ainuddin Ghat Majhi Lane up to the junction of Chintamoni Dey Road, thence along the northern side of Chintamoni Dey Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South).

Ward No. 18

Starting from the junction of Deshpran Sasmal Road and Kali Kundu Lane along the eastern side of Kali Kundu Lane up to its junction with Kali Banerjee Lane, thence along the northern side of Kali Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Girish Banerjee Lane, up to its junction with Krishna Kamal Bhattacharjee Lane, thence along the northern side of Krishna Kamal Bhattacherjee Lane up to its junction with Chintamoni Dey Road; thence along the northern side of Chintamoni Dey Road up to its junction with Ainuddin Ghat Majhi Lane, thence along the western side of Ainuddin Ghat Majhi Lane up to its junction with Joynarayan Santra Lane; thence along Joynarayan Santra Lane up to Sadar Buxi Lane; thence along eastern side of Sadar Baxi Lane up to Panchanantala Road, thence along southern side of Panchanantala Road and Deshpran Sasmal Road up to Kali Kundu Lane.

363

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule II.)

Ward No. 19

Starting from the junction of Belilious Road and I. R. Belilious Lane along the eastern side of I. R. Belilious Lane up to its junction with Panchanantala Road; thence along the northern side of Panchanantala Road up to its junction with M. C. Ghosh Lane; thence along the western side of M. C. Ghosh Lane up to its junction with Belilious Road; thence along the southern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with Basiruddin Munshi Lane; thence along the eastern and southern side of Basiruddin Munshi Lane up to Municipal Drain; thence crossing the culvert along the southern side of Iola Para Masjid Lane; thence along the western side of Iola Para Masjid Lane up to its junction with Belilious Road; thence along the southern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with

I. R. Belilious Lane. Ward No. 20

Staring from the junction of South Eastern Railway lines and Ashu Bose Lane along the southern side of South Eastern Railway lines up to its meeting point from where Belilious Road proceeding westward from northward (just in front of the gate of the old Howrah Maidan Martin Station); thence along the northern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with Basiruddin Munshi Lane; thence along the western and northern side of Basiruddin Munshi Lane up to the Municipal Drain; thence crossing the culverts along the northern side of Iola Para Masjid Lane; thence along the eastern side of Iola Para Masjid Lane up to its junction with Belilious Road; thence along the northern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with Ashu Bose Lane; thence along the eastern side of Ashu Bose Lane up to its junction with South Eastern Railway lines.

Ward No. 21

Starting from the junction of Mahadeb Banerjee Lane and Deshpran Sasmal Road along the northern side of Deshpran Sasmal Road up to its junction with I. R. Belilious Lane; thence along the western side of

I. R. Belilious Lane up to its junction with Belilious Road; thence along the southern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with Badan Roy Lane; thence along the eastern side of Badan Roy Lane up to its junction with Kaliprasad Banerjee Lane, thence along the eastern side of Kaliprasad Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Bisweswar Banerjee Lane, thence along the southern side of Bisweswar Banerjee Lane up to Mahadeb Banerjee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Mahadeb Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Deshpran Sasmal Road.

364

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IL)

Ward No. 22

Starting from the junction of Belilious Road and Ashu Bose Lane along the western side of Ashu Bose Lane up to the South Eastern Railway lines; thence westward along the South Eastern Railway Lines up to the Howrah Municipal boundary; thence along the southward and eastward along Howrah Municipal boundary up to its meeting point with Howrah Drainage Canal; thence southward along the canal up to its meeting points with Makardah Road; thence along the northern side of Makardah Road up to its junction with Belilious Road; thence along the northern side of Belilious Road up to its junction with Ashu Bose Lane. Ward No. 23

Starting from junction of Kalachand Nandy Lane and Brindaban Mullick Lane along the eastern side of Brindaban Mullick Lane up to its junction with Kantapukur Lane; thence along the eastern side of Kantapukur Lane up to its junction with Ichapur Road; thence along the northern side of Ichapur Road up to Drainage Canal (New H. I. T. Road); thence northwards along the H. I. T. Road up to its junction with Makardah Road; thence along the southern side of Makardah Road up to its junction with Belilious Road; and thence along Belilious Road up to Badan Roy Lane; thence along the western side of Badan Roy Lane up to the junction of Kaliprasad Banerjee Lane; thence along the western side of Kaliprasad Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Bisweswar Banerjee Lane; thence westward along the northern side of Bisweswar Baneijee Lane up to its junction with Mahadeb Banerjee Lane; thence southward along the western side of Mahadeb Banerjee Lane up to the junction of Deshpran Sasmal Road; thence along the northern side of Deshpran Sasmal Road up to its junction with Narasingha Dutta Road; thence along the western side of Narasingha Dutta Road up to its junction with Kalachand Nandy Lane; thence along the southern side of Kalachand Nandy Lane up to its juncition with Brindaban Mullick Lane. Ward No. 24

Staring from the junction of Netaji Subhas Road and Brindaban Mullick Lane along the eastern side of Brindaban Mullick Lane up to its junction with Kalachand Nandy Lane; thence along both the sides of Kalachand Nandy Lane up to its junction with Narasingha Dutta Road; thence along the eastern side of Narasingha Dutta Road up to the junction of Deshpran Sasmal Road; thence along the southern side of Deshpran Sasmal Road up to its junction with Kali Kundu Lane; thence along the western side of Kali Kundu Lane up to its junction with Netaji Subhas Road; thence along the northern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its junction with Brindaban Mullick Lane.

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule 11.)

Ward No. 25

Starting from the junction of Netaji Subhas Road and Priya Nath Ghosh Lane along the eastern side of Priya Nath Ghosh Lane up to its junction with Gadadhar Mistry Lane; thence along the eastern side of Gadadhar Mistry Lane up to its junction with Kasundia Road; thence along the eastern side of Kasundia Road up to its junction with Olabibitala Lane; thence along the eastern side of Olabibitala Lane up to its junction with Kaipukur First Lane; thence along the northern side of Kaipukur First Lane up to its junction with Kaipukur Lane; thence along the northern side of Kaipukur Lane up to its junction with Chandra Kumar Banerjee Lane, thence along the western side of Chandra Kumar Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Nabin Scnapati Lane; thence along the western side of Nabin Senapati Lane up to its junction with Kasundia Road; thence along the northern side of Kasundia Road up to its junction with Bepin Behari Mukherjee Lane; thence along the western side of Bepin Behari Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Netaji Subhas Road; thence along the southern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its junction with Priya Nath Ghose Lane.

Ward No. 26

Starting from the junction of Raj Ballav Das Lane and Netaji Subhas Road along the southern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its junction with Nidhi Ram Majhi Lane; thence along the western side of Nidhi Ram Majhi Lane; thence along the western side of Gopal Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Ram Krishnapur Lane; thence along the western side of Ram Krishnapur Lane up to the junction of Nilratan Mukherjee Lane, thence along the northern side of Nilratan Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Chandra Kumar Banedee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Chandra Kumar Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Nabin Senapati Lane; thence along the eastern side of Nabin Senapati Lane up to its junction with Kasundia Road; thence along the southern side of Kasundia Road up to its junction with Raj Ballav Das Lane; thence along the eastern side of Raj Ballav Das Lane up to its junction with Netaji Subhas Road.

Ward No. 27

Starting from the junction of Kali Kundu Lane and Kali Banerjee Lane along the southern side of Kali Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Girish Banerjee Lane; thence along the southern side of Girish Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Krishnakamal Bhattacharjee Lane; thence along the southern side of Krishnakamal Bhattacharjee Lane up

366

The Howmh Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule II.)

to its junction with Chintamoni Dey Road; thence along the southern side of Chintamoni Dey Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South); thence along the western side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Rajaballav Saha Lane; thence along the northern side of Raj Ballav Saha Lane up to its junction with Sidheswaritola Lane; thence along the eastern side of Sidheswaritola Lane up to its junction with Netaji Subhas Road; thence along the northern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its junction with Kali Kundu Lane; thence along the eastern side of Kali Kundu Lane up to its junction with Kali Banerjee Lane. Ward No. 28

Starting from the junction of Raj Ballav Saha Lane and Gopal Banerjee Lane along the eastern side of Gopal Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Ramkrishnapur Lane; thence along the northern side of Ramkrishnapur Lane up to its junction with Charu Singha Lane; thence along the northern side of Charu Singha Lane up to its junction with G. T. Road (South); thence along the western side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Raj Ballav Saha Lane; thence along the southern side of Raj Ballav Saha Lane up to its junction with Sidheswaritola Lane; thence along the western side of Sidheswaritola Lane up to its junction with Netaji Subhas Road; thence along the southern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its junction with Nidhiram Majhi Lane; thence along the eastern side of Nidhiram Majhi Lane up to its junction with Gopal Banerjee Lane.

Ward No. 29

Starting from the river Hooghly along the southern side of Nityadhan Mukherjee Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South); thence along the eastern side of G. T. Road up to its junction with Bonbehari Bose Road; thence along the northern side of Bonbehari Bose Road up to the Foreshore Road (Upper); thence along a direct line up to the river Hooghly.

Ward No. 30

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (South) and Charu Singha Lane along the southern side of Charu Singha Lane up to its junction with Ram Krishnapur Lane; thence along the southern and eastern side of Ramkrishnapur Lane up to its junction with Atindra Mukherjee Lane; thence along the northern side of Atindra Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with G. T. Road; thence along the western side of G. T. Road

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule IL)

up to its junction with Dr. Gangadhar Mukherjee Road; thence along the northern side of Dr. Gangadhar Mukherjee Road up to the river Hooghly; thence along the river Hooghly towards north up to the boundary of Ward No. 29; thence along the southern boundary of Ward No. 29 up to Bonbehari Bose Road; thence along the southern side of Bonbehari Bose Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South). Ward No. 31

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (South) and Baje Shibpur Road along the northern side of Baje Shibpur Road up to its junction with Ramkrishnapur Lane; thence along the eastern side of Ramkrishnapur Lane up to its junction with Atindra Mukherjee Lane; thence along the southern side of Atindra Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with G. T. Road (South); thence along the western side of G. T. Road up to the junction of Baje Shibpur Road.

Ward No. 32

Starting from the junction of Nilratan Mukherjee Road and Ram Krishnapur Lane along the western side of Ramkrishnapur Lane up to its junction with Baje Shibpur Road; thence along the southern side of Baje Shibpur Road up to its junction with Dharmatala Lane; thence along the western side of Dharmatala Lane up to its junction with Rammohan Mukherjee Lane; thence along the northern side of Rammohan Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Shibpur Road; thence along the northern side of Shibpur Road up to its junction with Aprakash Mukherjee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Aprakash Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Kaipukur Lane; thence along the southern and eastern side of Kaipukur Lane up to its junction with Chandra Kumar Banerjee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Chandra Kumar Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Nilratan Mukherjee Road; thence along the southern side of Nilratan Mukherjee Road up to its junction with Ramkrishnapur Lane.

Ward No. 33

Starting from junction of Aprakash Mukherjee Lane and Kaipukur Lane along the western side of Aprakash Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Sibpur Road; thence along southern side of Sibpur Road up to its junction with Kashinath Chatterjee Lane; thence along western and northern side of Kashinath Chatterjee Lane up to its junction with

368

The Haltilth Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IL)

Madhab Dey Lane; thence along the western side of Madhab Dey Lane and Kshetra Banerjee Lane; thence eastward along southern side of Kshetra Ballet-ice Lane up to Dinoo Master Lane; thence along the western side of Dinoo Master Lane up to its junction of Dr. Sarat Chatteriee Road; thence along the northern side of Dr. Sarat Chatter* Road up to its junction with Abinash Banerjee Lane; thence along the southern side of Abinash Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Musalman Para Lane; thence along the eastern side of Musalman Para Lane up to its junction with Olabibitala Lane; thence along southern side of Olabibitala Lane and Aprakash Mukherjee Lane up to the junction of Kai pukur Lane. Ward No. 34

Starting from the junction of Baje Shibpur Road and G. T. Road (South) along the western side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Shibpur Road; thence along the northern side of Sihpur Road up to its junction with Rammohan Mukherjee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Rammohan Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Dharmatala Lane; thence along the eastern side of Dharmatala Lane up to its junction of Baje Shibpur Road; thence along the southern side of Baje Shibpur Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South).

Ward No. 35

Starting from the river Hooghly along the southern side of the Road leading to Rajnarayan Roy Chowdhury Ghat Road and then along Rajnarayan Roy Chowdhury Ghat Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South); thence along the eastern side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Bharpara Road; thence along the eastern side of Bharpara Road up to its junction with Debendra Nath Ganguly Road (Duke Road); thence along the northern and western side of Debendra Nath Ganguly Road up to Jagat Banerjee Chat Road, thence eastward through Jagat Banerjee Ghat Road and the Road leading to the river Hooghly; thence along the river Hooghly northwards up to the road leading to Rajnarayan Roy Chowdhury Ghat Road.

Ward No. 36

Starting from the river Hooghly along southern side of Grand Foreshore Road up to Dr. Gangadhar Mukherjee Road, then along Gangadhar Mukherjee Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South), thence along the eastern side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule 11.)

Rajnarayan Roy Chowdhury Ghat Road, thence along Rajnarayan Roy Chowdhury Ghat Road to the river Hooghly through Port Commissioners Road; thence towards north along the river Hooghly up to Grand Foreshore Road.

Ward No. 37

Starting from the junction of Shibpur Road and G. T. Road (South) along the western side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Mollapara Lane; thence along the northern side of Mollapara Lane up to its junction with Dinoo Master Lane; thence along the eastern side of Dinoo Master Lane up to its junction with Kshetra Banerjee Lane; thence along the northern and eastern side of Kshetra Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Madhab Dey Lane; thence along the eastern side of Madhab Dey Lane up to its junction with Kashinath Chatterjee Lane; thence along the southern and eastern side of Kashinath Chatterjee Lane, up to Shibpur Road; thence along the southern side of Shibpur Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South).

Ward No. 38

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (South) and Onkarmall Jetia Road along the western side of Onkarmall Jetia Road up to its junction with Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road; thence along the southern side of Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road up to its junction with Gurrie Road; thence along the eastern side of Gurrie Road up to its junction with Andul Road; thence along the northern side of Andul Road up to its junction with College Ghat Road; thence along the western side of the College Ghat Road up to its junction with Botanical Garden Road; thence along the southern side of Botanical Garden Road up to its junction with College Road; thence along the northern side of College Road up to its junction with G. T. Road (South) and Onkarmall Jetia Road.

Ward No. 39

Starting from South Eastern Railway lines and College Road, eastward along southern portion of Railway Lines up to the River Hooghly, thence along the river Hooghly up to its meeting point with the boundary of Botanical Garden; thence northward along the boundary of Botanical Garden up to the junction of Botanical Garden Road; then along Botanical Garden Road up to the junction of Botanical Garden Lane; then towards west along the southern side of Botanical Garden Lane up to the Howrah

370

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVII1 of 1980.]

(Schedule 11,)

municipal limit; thence northward along the boundary limits of Howrah Municipality up to Andul Road; thence along the northern side of Andul Road up to the junction with College Ghat Road (Laxmi Narayantala Road) up to its junction with Botanical Garden Road; then along southern side of Botanical Garden Road up to College Road; then along the eastern side of College Road up to the South Eastern Railway lines. Ward No. 40

Starting from the junction of G. T. Road (South) and Mollapara Lane along the eastern side of G. T. Road (South) up to its junction with Bharpara Road, thence along the eastern side of Bharpara Road up to its junction with Debendra Nath Ganguly Road (Duke Road); thence along the southern and eastern side of Debendra Nath Ganguly Road up to its junction with Jagat Banerjee Ghat Road; thence eastward along Jagat Banerjee Ghat Road and Port Commissioners Road straight to the river Hooghly; then along the river Hooghly towards west up to the western portion of the South Eastern Railway Lines; then along the Railway Lines up to College Road; thence along College Road up to the junction of G. T. Road (South); thence along G. T. Road (South) to Onkarmall Jetia Road; thence along Onkarmall Jetia Road up to Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road; thence along Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road up to Dinoo Master Lane; thence along Dinoo Master Lane up to junction of Mollapara Lane; thence along Mollapara Lane up to G. T. Road (South). Ward No. 41

Starting from the junction of Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road and Curry Road along the southern side of Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road up to its junction with Kankrapara Lane; thence along the eastern side of Kankrapara Lane up to its junction with South Eastern Railway Lines; thence along the South Eastern Railway Lines up to Howrah Municipal boundary in the west; thence along the eastern side of Braja Nath Lahiri Lane; thence along the eastern side of Buzarah Village Road up to its junction with Andul Road; thence along the northern side of Andul Road up to its junction with Curry Road; thence along the western side of Curry Road up to its junction with Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road. Ward No. 42

From the junction of Mohendra Bhattacharjee Road and New H. I. T. Road along the western side of H. I. T. Road up to its junction

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule II.)

with Puratan Shire Lane; thence along the northern side of Puratan Shire Lane up to its crossing with Nandalal Chatterjee Lane; thence along the northern side of Nandalal Chatterjee Lane up to its junction with Kazi Bagan Lane; thence along the northern side of Kazi Bagan Lane up to its junction with Nandalal Mukherjee Lane; thence along the eastern side of Nandalal Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Abinash Banerjee Lane; thence along the northern side of Abinash Banerjee Lane up to its junction with Musalmanpara Lane; thence along the western side of Musalmanpara Lane up to its junction with Olabibitala Lane; thence along the wesrtern side of Olabibitala Lane up to its junction with Kasundia Road; thence along the northern side of Kasundia Road up to its junction with Gadadhar Mistry Lane; thence along the western side of Gadadhar Mistry Lane up to its junction with Tantipara Lane; thence along the western side of Tantipara Lane up to its junction with Priya Nath Ghosh Lane; thence along the western side Priya Nath Ghosh Lane up to its junction with Mahendra Bhattachaijee Road; thence along the southern side of Mahendra Bhattacharjee Road up to its junction with

H. I. T.

Ward No. 43 From the junction of Ichapur Road and municipal limits along the direct demarcated by boundary marks westward to the junction of Ram Charan Sett Road; thence along the eastern side of Rain Charan Sett Road southwards to the crossing of Rain Charan Sett Road and Mahendra Bhattacharjee Road; thence along the northern side of Netaji Subhas Road up to its crossing with BrindabonMullick Lane; thence along the western side of Brindaban Mullick Lane to its junction with Kantapukur Lane; thence along the western side of Kantapukur Lane up to its junction with Ichapur Road; thence along the southern side of Ichapur Road up to its junction with western municipal limits. Ward No. 44

Starting from the junction of H. I. T. Road and Mahendra Bhattacharjee Road along the northern side of Mahendra Bhattacharjee Road up to the junction of Ramchandra Sett Road, thence along the eastern and northern side of Ramchandra Sett Road up to the junction of Ambika Kundu Lane; thence along the western side of Ambika Kundu Lane and Brajanath Lahiri Lane along the limits of Howrah Municipal area up to South Eastern Railway Lines, thence along the South Eastern Railway Lines up to the southern meeting point with Howrah Drainage Canal; thence along the Drainage Canal up to the meeting point with Kankra Para Lane;

372

The Hoorah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IL)

thence along Kankra Para Lane up to the junction of Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road (near the junction of Nandalal Chatterjee Lane); thence along Dr. Sarat Chatterjee Road up to the junction of Abinash Banerjee Lane; thence along Abinash Banerjee Lane up to Nandalal Mukherjee Lane; thence along Nandalal Mukherjee Lane up to its junction with Kazi Bagan Lane; thence along the southern side of Kazi Bagan Lane up to its meeting point with Nandalal Chatterjee Lane; thence along the northern side of Nandalal Chatterjee Lane up to its junction with Puratan Shire Lane; thence along the northern side of Puratan Shire Lane up to New H. I. T. Raod; thence northward along the western side of H. I. T. Road up to Mahendra Bhattacharjee Road.

Ward No. 45

Along Botanical Garden Road from its meeting point with the river Hooghly northward up to its junction with Botanical Garden Lane; thence along northern and eastern boundary of Botanical Garden up to the point where it meets Andul Road; thence along the southern side of Andul Road up to the point where it meets the eastern boundary of Mouza Thana Makua; thence westward along the southern side of Andul Road up to its junction with Burah village Road; thence northward all along the western side of Buxarah Village Road up to its junction with Brojanath Lahiri Lane; thence along the western side of Brojanath Lahiri Lanc up to its meeting point with Purba Buxarah Gram Sava; thence along the northern boundary of Purba Buxarah Gram Sava the South Easthern Railway lines; up to thence westward along the South Eastern Railway lines up to its meeting point with Railway line connecting Raymond Engineering Works; thence southward along the Railway line connecting Raymond Engineering Works up to its meeting point with C.M.D.A. pucca road; thence westward along the southern side of C.M.D.A. pucca road up to its junction with a pucca road between Dag No. 87 and No. 88 under Mouza Uttar Buxarah; thence southward along the eastern side of that pucca road up to its meeting point with Mouza Sultanpur; thence eastward along the southern boundary of Uttar Buxarah; thence along the western boundary of Northern Buxarah up to the Howrah Drainage Canal; thence crossing the canal westward along the northern boundary of Mouza Thana Makua and Gobaria up to the water edge at the lowest tide of the river Hooghly; thence along the water edge at lowest tide of the northern bank of the river Hooghly eastward up to the point where it meets the Botanical Garden Road.

373

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule IL)

Ward No. 46

Starting from the point where meets the western boundary of Mouza Thana Makua with the southern boundary of Mouza Sultanpur; thence northward along the western boundary of Mouza Sultanpur up to the point where it meets the southern boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence westward alone the southern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to the point where, it meets Mouza Pulya; thence along the south-western and northern boundary of Mouza Pulya up to the point where it meets the western boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence northward along the western boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to the point where it meets the western boundary of Mouza Jagacha; thence southward along the eastern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to its meeting point with South Eastern Railway lines; thence eastward along the South Eastern Railway lines up to its meeting point with the Railway lines connecting Raymond Engineering Works; thence southward along the Railway lines connecting Raymond Engineering Works up to its meeting point with the C.M.D.A. pucca road; thence westward along the northern side of the pucca road up to its meeting point with a pucca road proceeding southward between Dag No. 87 and No. 88 under Mouza Uttar Buxarah; thence southward along the western side of that pucca road up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Mouza Sultanpur; thence along the north-eastern and southern boundary of Mouza Sultanpur up to the point where it meets the point from where it starts.

Ward No. 47

Starting from the northern boundary of Mouza Unsani and western boundary of Mouza Jagacha northward along the western boundary of Mouza Jagacha and Mouza Dharsa up to the point where it meets the northern boundary of Mallickpara Gram Sava; thence along the northern boundary of Mallickpara Gram Sava; thence eastern and southern boundary of Mallickpara Gram Sava up to the eastern boundary of Brahmanpara Gram Sava; thence southward along the eastern boundary of Brahmanpara Gram Sava up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Uttar Jagacha Gram Sava; thence along the eastern boundary of Uttar Jagacha Gram Sava up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Jagacha Grain Sava; thence along the northern and eastern boundary of Jagacha Gram Sava up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Purba Jagacha Gram Sava; thence along the eastern

374

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule 11.)

and southern boundary of Purba Jagacha Gram Sava up to its meeting point with the South Eastern Railway lines; thence along the northern side of South Eastern Railway lines up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Mouza Unsani; thence northward along the eastern boundary of Mouza Unsani up to the point from where it starts. Ward No. 48

Starting from Ram Charan Sett Road along the western boundary of Ward No. 49 up to its junction with Howrah Ainta Road; thence along the southern side of Howrah Amta Road up to its meeting point with the western boundary of Mouza Balitikuri; thence southward along the eastern side of Mouza Balitikuri up to its meeting point with north- eastern boundary of Ward No. 47 up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Ward No. 45; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Ward No. 45 up to its meeting point with Ward No. 44; thence northward along the boundary of Ward No. 44 up to the point from where it starts.

Ward No. 49

Along the northern boundary of Uttar Sahanpur Gram Sabha from its junction with the western boundary of Uttar Sahanpur Gram Sabha up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Sibtala Gram Sabha; thence along the northern and eastern boundary of Sibtala Gram Sabha up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Dakshin Sahanpur Gram Sabha; thence along the eastern boundary of Dakshin Sahanpur Grain Sabha up to its meeting point with eastern boundary of Purba Ichapur Gram Sabha; thence along the eastern boundary of Purba Ichapur Gram Sabha up to its meeting point with southern boundary of Majherpara Grain Sabha; thence along the southern boundary of Majherpara Gram Sabha up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Dakshin Ichapur Gram Sabha; thence along the eastern, southern and western boundary of Dakshin Ichapur Gram Sabha up to its meeting point with the southern boundary of Ichapur Uttar-Paschimpara Gram Sabha; thence along southern and western boundary of Ichapur Uttar- Paschimpara Gram Sabha where it meets the northern boundary of

375

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule II.)

Ichapuf Uttar-Pachimpara Gram Sabha; thence along the northern boundary of Ichapur Uttar-Paschimpara Gram Sabha eastward up to its meeting point with the eastern boundary of Sealdanga Gram Sabha; thence along the western, southern and again western boundary of Sealdanga Grain Sabha up to its meeting point with the western boundary of Paschim Dasnagar Gram Sabha; thence along the western boundary of Paschim Dasnagar and Uttar Sahanpur Gram Sabhas up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Uttar Sahanpur Gram Sabha. Ward No. 50

Starting from the junction of Howrah Amta Road and the western boundary of Mouza Balitikuri northward along the western boundary of Mouza Balitikuri; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Balitikuri up to its meeting point with the western boundary of Mouza Kona; thence northward along the western boundry of Mouza Kona; thence eastward along the northern boundary and southward along the eastern boundary of Mouza Kona up to its meeting point with the northern boundary of Mouza Balitikuri at Belading; thence eastward along the northern boundary of Mouza Balitikuri up to the western boundary of Ward No. 8; thence southward along the western boundary of Ward No. 8 up to its meeting point with Ward No. 49; thence westward along the northern side of the boundary of Ward No. 49 up to its junction with Howrah Amta Road; thence westward along the northern side of Howrah Amta Road up to the point from where it starts.

376

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule III.)

SCHEDULE III

[See section 102.] Rates of tax on Professions, Trades and Callings SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Class I I . As company or association or body of individuals, Which exercises or carries on Five hundred rupees. the paid-up capital of which is equivalent to twenty any profession, trade or calling lakhs of rupees or upwards. whatsoever.

C/ th vs II

2. As company or association or body of individuals, the paid-up capital of which is equivalent to one lakh of rupees or upwards but is less than twenty lakhs of rupees.

3. As consulting or practising physician, practising surgeon, licentiate of medicine or surgery, medical practitioner, Kabiraj, Hakim, homoeopath, graduate of any veterinary college, dentist, barrister, attorney, vakil or advocate of the High Court, pleader, proctor, notary public, public accountant, average adjuster, statistical reporter, analyst, shroff or banian, freight broker or negotiator.

4. As broker or dalal employed in the wholesale transfer or purchase of imports or exports, country- produced silk or other merchandise.

5. As broker, dalal or dealer in houses or landed property, Government securities, shares or bills of exchange.

6. As sculptor, painter, stage or film actor or actress, singer, musician, magician or dancer in profession.

7. As proprietor of a newspaper, periodicals, journal or other public media.

S. As merchant, businessman, banker, wholesale trader, commission agent, engineer, architect, builder, contractor, auctioneer, or carrier. Which exercises or carries on Two hundred and any profession, trade or calling fifty rupees. whatsoever but is not included

in Class I.

Annual income out of the

Ditto.

profession is not less than ten

thousand rupees.

Ditto

Ditto.

Ditto

Ditto.

Ditto

Ditto.

The circulation in respect of

Ditto.

which is not less than ten

thousand copies per issue.

The rent as charged by the owner Ditto. or occupier of the place of

business or the fair-letting value

of the place of business is two

hundred rupees per mensem or

upwards.

9. As radiologist Ditto Ditto.

377

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule 111.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(2)

(3)

(4)

10. As keeper of laboratory for pathological examination of blood, sputum, urine, stool or such other things.

11. As dealer, broker or dalal dealing in precious stones or precious metals or articles of precious stones or metals.

12. As keeper of a sophisticated hair dressing saloon providing more than average amenity to the customer, or a beauty parlour.

13. Owneror occupier of cotton, jute, hide, or other screw-house or press-house.

The rent as charged by the owner Two hundred and or occupier of the place of fifty rupees. business or the fair-letting value

of the place of business is two

hundred rupees per mensem or

upwards.

Ditto Ditto.

The rent as charged by the owner

Ditto.

or the occupier of the place or

places of business or fair-letting

value of the place of business is

two hundred rupees per mensem

or upwards.

Ditto

Ditto.

14. Decorator Ditto Ditto.

15. Printer, publisher, lithographer, engraver, Ditto Ditto.

diesinker, photographer or phototyper.

16. As owner or occupier of a market or a place of Ditto Ditto. public entertainment, other than a theatre or a cinema house, kept up for the purpose of profit.

17. As hotel keeper, boarding house keeper, lodging Ditto Ditto. house keeper, manufacturer, retail trader or shop- keeper.

18. As owner or occupier of a depot or godown for Ditto Ditto. storage of goods for wholesale business.

19. As keeper of a hydrotherapy, bath or other clinic Ditto Ditto. or health resort.

20. As keeper of a laundry . . Ditto Ditto.

21. As keeper of an unsophisticated hair-dressing Ditto Ditto. saloon.

22. As dyer or a cleaner Ditto Ditto.

23. As keeper of a shop for the sale of any intoxicating Ditto Ditto. drug.

24. As dealer or seller of automobile spare parts Ditto Ditto.

378

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.1

(Schedule III.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

( I ) (2) (3)

(4)

25. As owner of a hire-purchase business

26. As proprietor or keeper of a nursing home or a sanatorium with ten or more beds for indoor patients.

27. As bullion merchant

28. As sole or chief agent or distributor of any merchandise or holder of dealership of any manufacturer or company.

29. As stockist or manufacturer engaged in the wholesale, trade of medicine, edible oils, ghee or spices.

30. As keeper of a restaurant with floor shows including cabaret or orchestra.

31. As cinema film distributor, cinema film producer or keeper of a cinema film studio.

32. As owner or occupier of a theatre or a cinema house.

33, As owner of ten or more taxi-cabs, buses, lorries, tempo-vans or contract cars which are used for carrying passengers or goods on payment of hire.

34. As book maker or turf accountant

35. As professional horse-breaker or race-horse trainer

36. As advertising agent

37. As stevedore

38. As keeper of a shop for the sale of intoxicating liquor.

The rent as charged by the owner Two hundred and or occupier of the place or places fifty rupees. of business or the fair-letting

value of the place of business is

two hundred rupeespermensein

or upwards.

Ditto.

Ditto.,

Ditto.

Class III

39. As company or association or body of individuals, the paid-up capital of which is equivalent to fifty thousand rupees or upwards but is less than one lakh of rupees.

40. As consulting or practising physician, practising surgeon, licentiate of medicine or surgery, medical practitioner, Kabiraj, Hakim or homoeopath, graduate- of any veterinary college, dentist, barrister, attorney, vakil or advocate of the High Court, pleader, proctor, notary public, public accountant, average adjuster, statistical reporter, analyst, shroff or banian, freight broker or negotiator.

Which exercises or carries on Two hundred rupees. any profession, trade or calling

whatsoever but is not included

in Class I or Class II.

Who is not included in Class II Ditto. and whose annual income out of

the profession is not less than

five thousand rupees.

379

The Howrah Municipal Corpora on Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule III.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(1) (2)

41. As broker or dalal employed in the wholesale transfer or purchase of imports and exports, country-produced silk or other merchandise.

(3)

Who is not included in Class II and whose annual income out of the profession is not less than five thousand rupees.

(4)

Two hundred rupees.

42. As broker, dalal or dealer in houses or landed Ditto

Ditto.

property, Government security, shares or bills of exchange.

43. As sculptor, painter, stage or film actor or actress, Ditto Ditto.

singer, musician, magician or dancer in profession.

44. As merchant, businessman, banker, wholsale Who is not included in Class II Ditto.

trader, commission agent, engineer, architect, and the rent as charged by the builder, contractor, auctioneer or carrier. owner or occupier of the place of business or the fair-letting

value of the place of business is

one hundred rupees per mensem

or upwards.

45. As owner or occupier of a cotton, jute, hide or Ditto Ditto. other screw-house or press-house.

46. As decorator Ditto Ditto.

47. Printer, publisher, lithographer, engraver, die- Ditto Ditto.

sinker, photographer or phototyper.

48. As owner or occupier of a market or a place of Ditto Ditto. public entertainment other than a theatre or a cinema house, kept up for profit.

49. As hotel keeper, boarding house keeper, lodging Ditto Ditto. house keeper, manufacturer, retail trader or shop- keeper.

50. As owner or occupier of a depot or godown for Ditto Ditto. storage of goods for wholesale business.

5I. As keeper of a hydrotherapy, bath or other clinic, Ditto Ditto. or health resort.

52. As keeper of a laundry Ditto Ditto.

53. As keeper of an unsophisticated hair-dressing Ditto Ditto. saloon.

54. As dyer or cleaner Ditto Ditto.

55. As keeper of a shop for the sale of any intoxicating Ditto Ditto. drug.

380

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule III.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(4)

Two hundred rupees.

(1)

(2)

56. As dealer or seller of automobile spare parts

57. As owner of a hire-purchase business

58. As radiologist

59. As keeper of laboratory for pathological examination of blood, sputum, urine, stool or such other things.

60. As dealer, broker or dalal dealing in precious stones or precious metals or articles of precious stones or metals.

61. As keeper of a sophisticated hair dressing saloon providing more than average amenity to the customer, or a beauty parlour.

62. As proprietor or keeper of a nursing home or sanatorium with five or more but less than ten beds for indoor patients.

63. As owner of five or more, but less than ten taxi- cabs, buses, lorries, tempo-vans or contract cars which are used for canying passengers or goods on payment of hire.

Ditto.

(3)

Who is not included in Class II and the rent as charged by the owner or occupier of the place of business or the fair-letting value of the place of business is one hundred rupees per mensem or upwards.

Ditto

Ditto Ditto.

Ditto.

One hundred rupees.

Ditto.

Class IV

64. Which exercises or carries on As company or association or body of individuals, any profession, trade or calling the paid-up capital of which is equivalent to twenty- whatsoever but is not included five thousand rupees or upwards but is less than in Class I or Class II or Class III. fifty thousand rupees.

65. Who is not included in Class II As proprietor of a newspaper, periodical, journal and the circulation in respect of or other public media.

which is five thousand copies

per issue or onwards.

Who is not included in Class II

or Class III and the rent as

charged by the owner or occupier

of the place of business or the

fair-letting value of the place of

business is fifty rupees per

mensem or upwards.

67. As decorator Ditto Ditto.

66. As owner or occupier of a cotton, jute, hide or other screw-house or press-house.

381

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 198a [West Ben. Act

(Schedule III.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

68. As printer, publisher, lithographer, engraver, die- Who is not included in Class II One hundred rupees. sinker, photographer or phototyper. or Class III and the rent as charged by the owner or occupier

of the place of business or the

fair-letting value of the place of

business is fifty rupees per

mensern or upwards.

.69. As owner or occupier of a market or a place of Ditto Ditto.

public entertainment, other than a theatre of a

cinema house, kept up for the purpose of profit.

70. As hotel keeper, boarding house keeper, lodging Ditto Ditto. house keeper, manufacturer, retail trader or

shopkeeper.

71. As owner or occupier of a depot or godown for Ditto Ditto. storage of goods for wholesale business.

72. As keeper of a hydrotherapy, bath or other clinic Ditto Ditto. or health resort.

73. As keeper of a laundry . . Ditto Ditto.

74. As keeper of an unsophisticated hair-dressing Ditto Ditto. saloon.

75. As dyer or cleaner . . Ditto Ditto.

76. As keeper of a shop for the sale of any intoxicating Ditto Ditto. drug.

77. As proprietor or keeper of a nursing home or Who is not included in Class H Ditto. sanatorium with less than five beds for indoor or Class III.

patients.

78. As radiologist . . Ditto Ditto.

79. Keeper of a laboratory for pathological Ditto Ditto. examination of blood, sputum, urine, stool or such other things.

80. As dealer, broker or dalal dealing in precious Ditto Ditto. stones or precious metals or articles of precious stones or metals.

81. As keeper of a sophisticated hair-dressing saloon Ditto Ditto. providing more than average amenity to the

customer, or a beauty parlour.

82. As dealer or seller of automobile spare parts Ditto Ditto.

83. As merchant, businessman, banker, wholesale Ditto Ditto. trader, commission agent, engineer, architect, builder, contractor, auctioner or carrier.

84. As owner of less than five taxi-cabs, buses, lorries, Ditto. tempo-vans or contract cars used for carrying

passengers or goods on payment of hire.

382

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule 111,)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

( I ) (2)

85. As company or association or body of individuals the paid-up capital of which is less than twenty- five thousand rupees.

86. As consulting or practising physician, practising surgeon, licentiate of medicine or surgery, medical practitioner, Kabiraj, Hakim, homoeopath, graduate of any veterinary college, dentist, barrister, attorney, vakil or advocate of the High Court, pleader, proctor, notary public, public accountant, average adjuster, statistical reporter, analyst, shroff or banian, freight broker or negotiator.

87. Broker or dalal employed in the wholesale transfer of purchase of imports or exports, country produced silk or other merchandise.

88. Broker, dalal or dealer in houses, or landed property, Government securities, shares or bills of exchange.

89. As sculptor, painter, stage or film actor or actress, singer, musician, magician or dancer in profession.

(3) (4)

Which exercises or carries on Fifty rupees. any profession, trade or calling whatsover.

Who is not included in Class II Ditto.

or Class III and whose annual

income out of the profession is less than five thousand rupees. Ditto Ditto.

Ditto Ditto.

When annual income is less than Ditto. Five thousand rupees.

Class V

Who is not included in Class II or Class IV and the circulation in respect of which is one

thousand copies per issue or

upwards.

Whose annual income out of the profession is not less than three thousand rupees.

Ditto

Who is not included in Class II or Class III or Class IV.

Who is not included in Class II or Class III or Class IV and the rent as charged by the owner or occupier of the place of business is twenty-five rupees or upwards. The rent is charged by the owner or occupier of the place of

business or the fair-letting value of the place of business is

twenty-five rupees per mensem or upwards.

90. As proprietor of a newspaper, periodical, journal or other public media.

91. As Insurance agent, broker or canvasser

92. As mukInear

93. As owner or occupier of a cotton, jute, hide or other screw-house or press-house.

94. Decorator

95. As printer, publisher, lithographer, engraver, die- sinker, photographer or phototyper.

Ditto.

383

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule Hp

Sl. No. Profession, trade and callings. Classes. Rate of annual tax.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

96. Hotel-keeper, boarding house keeper, lodging The rent is charged by the owner Fifty rupees. house keeper, manufacturer, retail trader or shop or occupier of the place of keeper. business or the fair-letting value

of the place of business is

twenty-five rupees per mensem

or upwards.

97. Dyer or cleaner . Ditto Ditto.

98. Keeper of an unsophisticated hair-dressing saloon. Ditto Ditto.

99. Order supplier . Ditto Ditto.

100. As owner of a tutorial home, commercial school Ditto Ditto. or college.

101. As carriage dealer or house dealer Ditto Ditto.

102. As plumber, electric fitter or gas fitter Ditto Ditto.

103. As poddar or money changer Ditto Ditto.

104. As owner or occupier of a market or a place of Who is not included in Class II Ditto. public entertainment other than a theatre or a or Class III or Class IV. cinema house, kept up for profit.

105. As owner or occupier of a depot or godown for Ditto Ditto. storage of goods for wholesale business.

106. As keeper of hydrotherapy, bath or other clinic or Ditto Ditto. health resort.

107. As keeper of a shop for the sale of any intoxicating Ditto Ditto. drug.

108. As keeper of a laundry . Ditto Ditto.

109. As owner of a hire-purchase business . . Ditto Ditto.

110. As private Detective Ditto.

111. As keeper of a billiard room Ditto.

112. As pawn broker or money lender Ditto.

113. As professional Astrologer Ditto.

114. As owner of a steam ferry boat or steam cargo Ditto. boat.

115. As commercial traveller or manufacturer's Ditto. representative.

116. As chalani trader or purchaser of goods in Howrah Ditto. for transport and sale beyond the limits of Howrah.

384

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule HT)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings.

(I) (2)

Classes.

(3)

Rate of annual tax.

(4)

117. As advertisement broker Fifty rupees.

118. As labour supplier, licensed shipping broker, boat supplier or custom house agent.

Ditto.

119. As surveyor (including a licensed building surveyor), professional measurer. Ditto.

120. As practising apothecary or practising veterinary surgeon.

Ditto.

121. As broker or dalal Who is not specified otherwise or who is not included in any

other class.

Ditto.

122. As decorator Who is not included in Class II or Class III or Class IV or

Twenty-five rupees.

Calss V.

123. As owner of a tutorial home, commercial school or college.

Who is not included in Class V Ditto.

124. As printer, publisher, lithographer, engraver, die- sinker, photographer or phototyper.

Who is not included in Class II

or Class III of Class IV or

Ditto.

Class V.

125. As hotel keeper, boarding house keeper, lodging house keeper or manufacturer.

Ditto Ditto.

Class VI

126. As retail trader or shop keeper Who is not included in Class II or Class III or Class IV or

Ditto.

Class V and the rent as charged

by the occupier of the place of

business or fair-letting value of

whose place of business is fifteen

rupees per mensem or upwards.

127. As keeper of an unsophisticated hair-dressing saloon.

Ditto Ditto.

128. As dyer or cleaner Ditto Ditto.

129. As order supplier Who is not included in Class V Ditto.

130. As carriage dealer or horse dealer Ditto Ditto.

131. As plumber, electric fitter or gas fitter Ditto Ditto.

132. As poddar or money changer Ditto Ditto.

385

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule III.)

SI. No. Profession, trade and callings.

(1) (2)

133. As owner of a music or a dance school

134. As professional draftsman

135. As proprietor of a newspaper, periodical, journal or other public media.

Classes.

(3)

Who is not included in Class H or Class IV or Class V and the circulation in respect of which is less than one thousand copies per issue.

Rate of annual tax.

(4)

Twenty-five rupees. Ditto.

Ditto.

136. As insurance agent, broker or canvasser

137. As a mukhtear

138. As fortune teller

139. As owner of a cargo-boat or a passenger boat or a bullock or a buffalo car which is let out on hire.

140. As bank supplier or stamp vendor

141. As owner of three or more jin-rickshaws, cycle- rickshaws, carriages or hand-carts which are let out for hire.

Whose annual income out of the Ditto. profession is less than three

thousand rupees.

Ditto Ditto.

Ditto.

Class VII

142. As keeper of a shop or other place of business

143. As padlar, vendor of goods in carts, hawker or boxwalls.

144. As owner of less than three jin-rickshaws, cycle- rickshaws, carriages or hand-carts, which are let out on hire.

Who is not included in any other Fifteen rupees. class.

Ditto.

145. As professional petition, letter or bill writer Ditto.

386

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IV.)

SCHEDULE IV

[See section 3.] Tax on Advertisements

I. Advertisements on hoardings, walls or posts or in the form of non- illuminated sky-signs—

(a) for a space up to I square metre

(b) for a space over 1 square metre and up to 2-5 square metres

Rs. P.

Per year

Rs. P.

1200

2500

2000

2. Advertisements on cloth hung across streets of footpaths—

(a) in a street up to 6 metres wide

(b) in a street over 6 metres wide

1.00

(per running 30 centimetres)*

150

(per running 30 centimetres)*

(i) Advertisements which are fixed to or against the wall or outer face of a building and

(I) no part of which projection on or over a street:

(a) for a space up to 1 square metre

(b) for a space over I square metre and up to 2.5 square metres.

(2) which are placed in a position inclined to the vertical or otherwise project on or over a street:

(a) for a space up to 1 square metre

(b) for a space over 1 square metre and up to 25 square metres.

(ii) Advertisement suspended over or across street—

(a) for a space up to 1 square metre .

(b) for a space over I square metre and up to 2.5 square metres

2500

20-00

1200

2500

20-00

1200

2500

20-00

4. Advertisement hoarding standing blank but bearing the name of the advertiser or with the announcement 'To be let' displayed thereon:

(a) for a space up to 1 square metre

(b) for a space over I square metre and up to 5 square metres ..

0.50

1.00

*In addition to the usual amount on the basis of the surface area of the cloth, calculated at the rates as in item I, reduced in terms of a month.

N.B.—If the advertisement board projects more than sixty centimetres over or across streets—Rs. 4 for every additional 30 centimetres in addition to the tax prescribed above.

N.B.—If the board exceeds 15 centimetres in thickness-2 per 30 centimetres of the thickness in addition to the tax above.

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The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule IV.)

Per month

Rs. P.

5. Advertisement board carried on vehicles (or advertisements dis- played on the body of vehicles)—

(a) for a space up to 1 square metre

(b) for a space over 1 square metre and up to 2.5 square metres

(d) for every additional 5 square metres or less Provided that in the case of a person advertising in more than one vehicle at a time the total space advertised in all the vehicles taken together shall be taken into account for the purpose of determination of the tax.

6. Illuminated advertisement boards carried on vehicles (or illuminated advertisements displayed on the body of vehicles)—

(a) for a space up to 2-5 square metres

(b) for a space over 25 square metres and up to 5 square metres

7. Advertisement boards carried by sandwich boardmen—

(a) for each board up to 1 square metre 1-25

(b) for each board over 1 square metre and up to 2-5 square metres 250

(a) for each board up to 1 square metre 250

(b) for each board over 1 square metre and up to 25 square metres 5.00

Per year Rs. P.

2000

4100

7500

15000

150.00

9. Illuminated sky-signs and advertisements other than those referred to in items 6 and 8—

(a) for a space over 2,000 square centimetres 1600

(b) for a space over 2,000 square centimetres and up to 5,000 square centimetres. 3200

(d) for every additional 2.5 square metres or less 4000 N.B.—In the case of projected advertisements in addition to the tax prescribed above, the same rate will supply regarding projection and thickness, as given in item 3 above.

10. Advertisements exhibited on screens by means of lantern slides or similar devices—

(a) for a space upto 5,000 square centimetres

64.00

(b) for a space over 5,000 square centimetres and up to 2.5 square metres

8000

80.00

388

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule IV.)

11 Posters on walls, hoardings, frames, posts, kiosks, upon or in vehicles—

(a) for a space not exceeding a single royal

(b) for a space not exceeding double royal

(c) for every additional I square metre If a poster for which tax has already been paid has to be replaced due to damage or otherwise before the expiry of the period for which the tax has been paid, a stamp may be affixed to the new poster to the effect that it is covered by the original receipt for payment, the number and date whereof should be specified on the body of the poster:

Provided that the previous approval of the Commissioner shall be taken before erecting such new posters.

Per month

Rs. P.

025

050

037

Per year Rs. P.

12. Fly-posters or hand-posters—

(a) of a size up to 96 square centimetres 1 paisa each.

(b) of a size over 96 square centimetres and upto 192 square centimetres. 2 paise each.

(d) of a size over 320 square centimetres and upto 480 square centimetres. 5 paise each.

(e) of every additional 96 square centimetres or less 1 paisa each.

EXPLANATION

1. In calculating the space or area referred to above all the faces of the advertisement hoardings, boards, etc., utilised for purposes of display shall be taken into account:

Provided that in the case of a sky-sign, in addition to the above, the face surface of the supporting pillars or raised platforms, if any, below the actual displaying area shall also be taken into account.

2. An advertisement shall not be deemed to be an illuminated advertisement within the meaning of this Schedule if such advertisement is illuminated merely by light which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, is not more than what is necessary to make the same visible at night.

389

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule V.)

SCHEDULE V

[See section 220.] Penalties

Section and

Subject Maximum fine or Maximum daily sub-section, clause imprisonment fine that may or proviso. that may be be imposed. imposed.

1 2 3 4

Section 77, sub- Requisition by auditors to produce Two hundred Fifty rupees. section (3). documents, to appear in person or to rupees. make and sign declaration to answer

question or to submit statement.

Section 104 Advertisement made without payment One thousand One hundred rupees. of taxes. rupees.

Section 1 1 I, sub- Default in furnishing statement and One hundred Ten rupees. sections (2) and production of books and accounts. rupees.

(3).

Section 142 Construction of private streets, walls, One thousand One hundred rupees. fence, etc. on municipal drain, channel, rupees.

etc. without permission.

Section 144, sub- Unlawful connection of house drain with One thousand One hundred rupees. section (1). municipal drain. rupees.

Section 145 Requisition to owner to arrange for One thousand One hundred rupees. sufficient means of effectual drainage. rupees.

Section 148 Throwing, emptying or turning certain One thousand Fifty rupees. matters not to be passed through rupees.

municipal drains.

Section 153, sub- Keeping or maintaining toilet or urinal Five hundred Fifty rupees. section (3). for public use without permission. rupees.

Section 155, sub- Failure to provide privy, urinal, bathing Five hundred Fifty rupees. section (2). or washing place. rupees.

Section 156 Failure to provide privy or make Five hundred Fifty rupees. alteration or substitution of service privy rupees.

by other system.

Section 157, sub- Construction of cesspool in violation of Five hundred Twenty-five rupees. section (1). provision. rupees.

Section 157, sub- Requisition on owner to fill up or remove Five hundred Twenty-five rupees. section (2). unlawful cesspool. rupees.

390

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule V.)

Section and

sub-section, clause

or proviso.

Subject MaxiMum fine or

imprisonment

that may be

imposed.

Maximum daily

fine that may

be imposed.

Section 163 Section 164 Section 165 Section 166, sub- section (5). Section 170. sub- section (1). Section 170, sub- section (2). Section 171

Section 173

Section 177, sub- section (I). Section 178

Section 179, sub- section (1). Failure to comply with a notice for removal or alteration of verandah, platform, building etc.

Failure to remove wall, fence, rail, platform, etc.

Prohibition of tethering of animals and milking of cattle.

Construction or reconstruction in violation of the regular line of a street or building line without proper permission.

Utilisation or sale of land for construction of buildings without provision for streets giving access to the site.

Utilisation or disposal of land without sending a written application with a lay out plan.

Prohibition of making new streets. Unauthorised use of land as building site. Unauthorised erection to a building. Occupation of a building without a completion certificate.

Change of the use of premises sanctioned for specified purposes.

One thousand rupees.

Five thousand

rupees.

Two hundred rupees.

One hundred rupees.

One thousand rupees.

Two thousand and

five hundred rupees

or imprisonment for

six months or both.

Two thousand and

five hundred rupees

or imprisonment for

six months or both.

Five hundred rupees.

Two thousand and

five hundred rupees

or imprisonment for

six months or both.

Fifty rupees.

Ten rupees.

One hundred rupees

per square metre.

Two hundred

rupees.

Twenty-five

rupees.

Two hundred

rupees.

391

Three hundred rupees.

Two thousand and five hundred rupees or imprisonment for six months or both. Two thousand and 'five hundred rupees or imprisonment for six months or both. Two thousand and five hundred rupees or imprisonment for six months or both. One thousand

rupees.

Twenty-five rupees. Two hundred

rupees.

Two hundred

rupees.

Two hundred

nmees.

One hundred rupees. Two thousand and five hundred rupees or imprisonment for six months or both. Two thousand and five hundred rupees or imprisonment for six months or both. Five hundred

rupees.

Five hundred

rupees.

Five hundred

rupees.

Two hundred

rupees.

Two hundred and fifty rupees.

Twenty-five rupees. Twenty-five rupees. Twenty-five rupees. The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. [West Ben. Act

(Schedule V.)

Section and

Subject

Maximum fine or

Maximum daily

sub-section, clause imprisonment fine that may or proviso. that may be

be imposed.

imposed.

Failure to perform duties in the matter of collection of solid wastes. Use, alteration, etc. of premises as godowns, ware-houses, etc. without permission.

Establish a factory without permission or altering or extending the same other- wise than in conformity with the conditions.

Keeping eating house, etc. without permission or otherwise than in conformity with a licence.

Keeping open threaters, circuses, etc. without permission or otherwise than in conformity with a licence.

Keeping open any private market, etc. otherwise than in conformity with a licence.

Carrying on the trade of a butcher otherwise than in conformity with a licence.

Prohibition of selling of flesh, fish or animal without licence.

Prohibition of hawking, etc. otherwise than in terms of a licence.

Prohibition of carrying on trade of a butcher, fish monger, etc. otherwise than in conformity with a licence. Section 188, sub-

section (3).

Section 190, sub-

section (1).

Section 191, sub-

section (1).

Section 192, sub-

section (1).

Section 193

Section . 196

Section 197,

clause (a).

Section 197,

clause (b).

Section 200

Section 201

392

The Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. LVIII of 1980.]

(Schedule V.)

Subject Maximum fine or Maximum daily imprisonment fine that may

that may be be imposed.

imposed.

1 2 3 4

Two thousand and Two hundred five hundred rupees rupees. or imprisonment for

six months or both.

Two thousand and Two hundred five hundred rupees rupees. or imprisonment for

six months or both.

Prohibition of keeping adulterants in a place where butter, ghee, etc. are manu- fadtured or stored.

Section 205, sub-

section (2).

Section 206

Section 209

Section 212

Section 214, sub-

section (1).

Failure to provide protection to articles of food drug, receptacle, etc. Keeping of shops, etc. otherwise than in conformity with a licence or failure to display the licence.

Failure to give information of dangerous diseases.

Failure to take measures to prevent spread of dangerous diseases.

Non-registration of place for disposal of the dead and failure to deposit plan in municipal office.

Two hundred

rupees.

One thousand

rupees.

One hundred

rupees.

One hundred

rupees.

One hundred

rupees.

Fifty rupees.

One hundred

rupees.

Section and

sub-section, clause

or proviso.

Section 202 •

Section 203

Section 204

Prohibition of sale, etc. of adulterated or misbranded food or drug.

Failure to register manufactory One thousand

Two hundred

rupees. rupees.

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West Bengal act 058 of 1980 : Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980

SECTIONS