An Act to provide for compulsory registration and movement of refugees.
Preamble. Whereas with a view to maintaining order, public health and sanitation, avoiding further shortage of accommodation, affording relief to the poor and relieving unemployment, it is necessary to provide for powers for the compulsory registration and movement of refugees;
It is hereby enacted as follows:
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
(a) refugee means a person who has migrated into [this State]5 for reasons of safety in consequence of disturbances or apprehension thereof endangering person or property in his usual place of residence;
(b) registration centre means any place specified as such for any particular area by the District Magistrate of the district by a general or special order or in the absence of any such order the nearest police station.
Every refugee in [this State]5 shall get himself registered at the appropriate registration centre and in such manner as the District Magistrate may direct within 15 days from the commencement of this Act or within 7 days of his arrival in [this State]5 whichever be later and shall furnish to the officer-in-charge of such registration centre such information as may be specified by the District Magistrate:
Provided that where the refugee is the head of a family, he shall be responsible for the registration of all members of his family living with him for the time being:
Provided further that where the refugee is a female, a minor, a lunatic, an idiot or person in capable of attending the registration centre by reason of any physical infirmity, the person who may for the time being be looking after such refugee shall, in like manner, attend such registration centre and furnish on his behalf the information specified in this section.
On registration the Officer-in-charge of the registration centre shall issue an identity card to the refugee. The refugee shall be responsible for the safe custody of the identity card and shall produce it on demand by a Magistrate, a police officer, an official of the rationing department, or such other public servant as may be authorised in this behalf by the District Magistrate.
Every refugee who wishes to change his residence from the jurisdiction of one registration centre to another shall, before departing, surrender his identity card to the Officer-in-charge of the registration centre from which he departs and get himself registered in the registration centre of the place where he wishes to reside.
The State Govermem may, by order in writing, require any refugee or class of refugees to reside within any area or to migrate from one area to another in [Madhya Pradesh]6 within a period specified in such order. If such refugee fails to leave the area in accordance with the order, he may, without prejudice to anything contained in section 7 be removed from such area by any police officer or any person authorised by the State Government in this behalf.
Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, or any rule made thereunder or any order made in pursuance of this Act or knowingly furnishes false information under section 3 shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine not exceeding Rs. 500 or with both.
The State Government may, by order direct that any power or duty, which is conferred or imposed on the State Government under this Act shall, in such circumstances and under such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercised or discharged by any officer or authority, not being an officer or authority subordinate to the Central Government.
The State Government may make rules to give effect to the purposes of this Act.
1. Received the assent of the Governor on the 30th October 1947, assent first published in the Central Provinces and Berar Gazette Extraordiary on the 3rd November, 1947.
2. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Central Provinces and Berar Gazette Extraordinary, dated the 20th October 1947, page 394. For Proceedings in Assembly, see Central Provinces and Berar Legislative Assemble Proceedings, 1947, Vol. IV. pages 39-43 of No. 12, dated the 28th October, 1947.
3. Subs. by M.P. Act 23 of 1958, S. 3(4), for Central Provinces and Berar .
4. Subs. ibid, Sch. Part A, item 43, for sub-sections (2) and (3).
5. Subs. by M.P. Act 23 of 1958, S. 3(4), for the Mahakoshal region .
6. Subs. by M.P. Act 23 of 1958, S. 3(3), Sch. Part A, item 48, for the Mahakoshal region .