Sikkim act 001 of 1993 : The SIKKIM AGRICULTURE PRODUCE MARKET ACT,1993

SIKKIM

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

Glmgtnk Monday 19th April, 1993 No. 44 GOVER~MENT OF SIKKIM

LAW DE.PARTf'I.1ENT

GANGTOK

;-.10TIFICATfON No.l!LD!1993 Dated: Gtk. the 2nd March, 1993. The following Act of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat having received the assent of the Gove-nor on 30th day of March, 1993 is hereby published for general infor- mation :-

THE SIKKfM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE MARKET ACT, 1993

(Act. NO. I OF 1993)

,."N ACT.

to provide lorbetter rcguiation of marketing of agricu!tllJ'al produce and the establishment and prqwl' administration of markers for agriculture produce and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto,

Ble: it enacted by the LegislaU ve Assembly of Sikkim in the Forty-fourth Year ef the Republic d India as follows :-

CHAPTER - I

PRELIMINARY

Short title, extent and commence- ment.

r,

This Act may be called the Sikkim Agriculture Produce Market Act, 1"3"

It extends to the whole of the State of Sikkim,

It shall come into force on such date as the State Goycrnment may, by 110ti- fication in the Official Gazette, appoint and di!ferel)t d.tes may be appointed for different areas.

Definitions

(a)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,»

"agriculturi5~" means a penon who ordinarily by hilnse]f or hy his tenant or hired labour or otherwise is engaged in the production of agricultural produce but does not include a dealer or broker in agricultural produce;

"agricultural produce" includes all produce, whether processed 01" l!IOlO- processed of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, seri- culture and forest as specified in the Schedule;

(c) "Board" means the Sikkim State A~ricultural Marlteting Board. constituted under section 3;

(d) "broker" means an agent whose ordinary course of business is to negotillt:e and make contracts for the purchase (IT ~i11(: of agricultur;j.] produce on bdu,Jf of his principal and .•.•·ho is remunerated by commission, but does pot .1 -~.:, .•"..~,"," 1 'WVh~ther ~De.£rd in f.lc.gotiating or

(h)

,2.

1

12.f I~nl

----- -=/

(e) , 'coHuni~~imil _geAt" nl(\~nS _ perWlil who o. behal f of ~RQthel' .1'<'1'5011 or does, or offers to do afi,)'thil'~ M,Ce);!;~ry for cOn1pktint ilnd carrying out such pl.tJ'c~'~.seor f,~,le;

"Co-oper"'live Soy:i.eties" means 2,1l Co-operative Socicries registered under the Sikkirn Co-operative Societies Act, I ~13, whlc]. has •.sirs principal object the prorn,r;(iOH of 1.1\\~sa!e. of _gricuhural produce ~r()Wfl, reared cr produced hy its mernbers;

"DiJ;ectar" mean- the. Director of Agricuhure and Hortlcutture , Govern- ment of Sik:kim and includes any other officer authorised hy the Government ity notification to peri:co}'Hl the fur ctions of the Director under ~,h;s Act for such

"iicence" mcaus ~ licence granted under this Act;

0)

(k) (i) (m) (1')

(5)

(t) (i'l (i)

"m:\rket"^m••~ns^~.marker established^sndregistered under^{thisActforthe} :1l;!l'ket ;p'ea and includes :I. market proper, ~ principal market J

"market ;;rea" means ~ny area declared to be a market :

"market commiLtee" means it committee established r.nder sect.ion T2 ;

"market prcper" rn,(';U1S ony area including all Iands with d1C buildings and structures thereon within ~{!.l~h distance of the princip ••l or sub-r-arket yard declared to he a market proper under clause (b) ()f sub-section (2) ,.if sect.iou II;

"notified agricultural produce" means the ;cgricultur<.\l pn>duce ,"pecif:cd

"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

"principal market yard and sub-market yard" means an

"Regi: tnr" means the Reg,;strar of the Co-operative Societies of Sikkim ;

"ret"J sale.': me; ns a sale of any 2griculturJJ produce )101 (:-xceed'ing such quantity as may be fixed in respect of an agricultural produce;

"Stal'''' Government" means (he State Covcrnment of Sikkim ;

"Secretary" means the Ch'cf Executive of the r.iarker committee and in- eludes offic'a1:ine-, "c'inp', Depurv and Assistanr ~;ccr('ti'rVw 0 _ J J

"Schedule" ]11(:,1I1S the Schedule 10 '.hi.s Act; (n)

(0)

(p) (g)

(u) "Supervisor" means a person whose business is to supervise the consign- ment of agri.cultural produce for sale in regard to qua litv, grade, adulteration and such other purposes ;

(v) "trade" means any kind of transaction or s"le and purchase of any agri.cui- rural produce ;

(w) "trader" means a person who is ordinarilv mg?gc(l in the business or buying :md gelling agri.cultural produce whether hy him:;cif or 1)), duly authoriscd agent and includes a person who L, ordinarily eng-'lgr,c] in the business or PJ'oces~ing of agriculture produce ;,

(x) "weighman" means it person whose business is to weigh the cc,n~;igltlllent of agricultural produce.

2

CCtn!ltitu- ti()l'~ of 1"~le Rnard.

In-corpOl'''-' lion of the

Board.

Disqualifi-

cation for

membership

in the Board. \^1_

STATi AGRICtn,"nJ~At MAJ.{K,Ef,ING r.OARD.--CONST.rflHJON, Hn,,'CnOr'lS AND POWERS.

Thr; State. GovC'J I'lfil~h'f mOlY,I"or t;h:~ pur·pOfl~~f t"his Act, ],Y l'I.otiiiceti(')I i.

the Official \.~,"z,~.l;k,","(;,"IJj~h ·alll,l. eonstttut.e ; B()~.Hl to -he kiJoVi':i!. as the Sjkkim Statc ,'\j!('cultural Marb'tina Board. ..,.. - b

Th~~Rr;Hd.,h:.dl h.ne (hi rt n~n hlellt1hers consjslin~ of il

(

( r)

(i) Secretary to tlite Government ,\)f Sikklm in Agriculture Department who shall be l'he ex-officio pre5i(1~nt of the ~o~i"d ;

(ii) Secrerary to the Government in ..Urban Development and HOHsin~ Department

(iii) Director, AgrIcultll1-e Dep ••rtment, who shall be the \'ice-Presideb1t of the Bo•.rd ;

(iv) D'rector, Hcrt.icul.ure Depntrnent, ·w1:..o shal 1 he. the M;na~ing Di- rector andalso Chief Executive of the Bo~nl.

(v) Director, Animal Husbandry Department,

(vi) Registr ••r , Co-operative Department ;

(h) SC"Cll non-ofiici •.] members as under :-

(i) 'fwn presidents of Market Committee

(ii) one l'epres~ntative from Spices Board ; (iii.) Managing Director, Sikkim Co-operative Supp\~ and M.Hketing lcderar ion , (SIMrED);

(iv) One member [rom financial institution,

(v) One member from progressive farm,

(vi) One member from trs ders representative. The State (;overnment sh~n ;;tppoint all officer of the AgricuJtur<'. or Ho rticul rural D:';par!)11':~r>thaving diploma in }.gricuhUl'al Iv1.arketingto ht. the Execu- tive Ofiicer to assist the Man~gil1g Director for efficient pcrtorrnaacc of the duties and functions of the Board.

(5)

Presence of five· members shall constitute quorum for the meeting of the Hoard.

All cluestions before a meeting of the Board shall be determined by a rrojo- rity of votes of the members present; and voting and in case of equality of votes the' president. may exercise a casting vote.

No proceeding of the Board shall he invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy amongst it:, members 01' any defect in the co~stjtution thereof,, ,

(6)

4· The Board shall be^itbody corporate having perpetual succession and a com- mon sea! with power subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire and h<.>lclproper:y and shall, by the said name, sue and be sued. The State Government shall excrclse ~upcrintenden.cc and control over the Board and its employees and may call for such information as it may' deem necessary and, in the event of its being satisfied that the Board is not functioning properly, the State Covcrnment may reconstitute it. 5· No penon shall be eligihleto he^<1non-olficia] member of the Board who-

(a) is below eighteen yean orage ;

(b) has been removed under section 30 or this A.ct

(c) is of Unbound rnincl ; or (,I.) has been declared .insolvent or sentenced by a criminal court for a'- offence involving moral turpitude :

'Providf:cl that [he ckql)alification under clause (d) !.hall -cel\ge'fc ann]v after the expirv d four years from the date on which the period or the

3

Appoint- ment of Officers and Staffs of the BOard.

Power to 8. 7·

borrow and maintenance of funds

and acco- unts of the Board,

Annual,.

financial Statement. Declara- 10. ( I) tlon of mar- ket area.

DecIara- I I. (I) tion of mar- ket yard.

Establish- 12. (I) ment of

market

cmmittee.

4

(2) 'The Board. shall exercise: supcvintcndence and control over the market commi- ttec.s andrnay call for any information or returns rdating to notified agricul- rural produce from :l':\y Inad(('( committee Jl'rl shall have the pO"YTr to inspect the records of any market committee or such funct ionarics under or in rela- iion t.o such markt:i committees, as the case may be.

(1) Notwirhst andi.ng :)nything conrained ln sub-sections (!) and (2 ), the State Government shall. also have powers of supertritendcnce and control over the market cornmitr'ees or other [unctioruu-les under or :'11relation to such mar- ket commitrze.

Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and hye-Iaws made rhereundcv , the Board may have it" own officers and staff to c:arry out: its functions, and their service conditions shall be such as the State Government meY, From time to time, specify.

(2)

The Board shall have its own fund into which all n1:ll1ey received by it shall he prid and from which all expenditure incurred shal l he defrayed. The Board may, with the previous sanction cf the State Government, raise mrmey required for carrying out the purpo~es for which it is establtshcd on the security of any prol)(,l"t)' vested in it. ..

The account, of the Hoard shall be ]11,'intainer] in such form as the State Government may prescribe.

Suhject to the rules made for rhis purpose, the Board shall submit t o the S'2~e Government a statement cf the estimated income and expcndit urc for rach iinancial year and the State Government shall give irs approval wii l. or ",th- out modification within two months of the receipt rhereof. CHAPTER - In

DECLARATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MARKET AREA AND

CONSTITUTION OF MARKET COMMITTEE

The Sr.stc Government may, by notification in the Olficia] Gazette, declar- the area so notif-ied or any portion thereof to k' a market area for the pure! poses of this Act in respect of all or any of the agricultural produce specific- in the Schedule.

After the date of the publication 'of the noti fication under sub-section (r ) or at such date as mey he specified therein, no person, local or other authority shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, set up, establish or continue or allow to be set up, establish or conti- nue or use any place in the market area for the purpose, sale or storage of any agaicultural produce so notified, except in accordance with the provisions of this Act or of the rules or bye laws made thereunder .. Nothing in sub-section (2) shall apply to the purchase, sale or storage of sued agricultural produce if the producer of such produce is himself its seller anh the purchaser is a person who purchases such produce for his own consumpe tion, or if such agricultural produce is sold by rcta iIsale to a person who pur- chases such produce for his own consumption.

The State Government may at any time, by notification in the Official Gazette, exclude from the market area any area or any agriculwral produce specified for that market area.

For each market area, there shall he the principal market yard and sub-market yards, if necessary.

The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare- (,1) any enclosure, bUilding or locality in any market area 1'0 he the prin- cipal market yard and other enclosures, bu.ildings or localities in such market areas to be one or more sub-market yard or yards for the area ; and

(b) any area including all lands with the building and structures thereon within such distance of the principal or sub-market yard or yards, as the case may be, as it thinks fi.t, to be the market proper. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a market committee for everv area declared to be a market area under sub- section (I) of section 10. The committee shall enforce the provisions of this Act and the rules and bye - Jaws framed thereunder.

4

Constitu- I 3. don of mar- ket commi- ttee.

Powers and 1<4-. functions

of the pre-

sident.

Calling of

meetings

and .quo-

r trrrr,

Functions of Market

committee.

5

In r:aseofp~culiar nature of trading of any agricultural produce, a separate market committee within the same market area may be established if the in- dependent market committee already ftmctioning -is unable to undertake its

. trading :

Provided that not more .than one market committee shall he establi- shed within the same marke: area for the same type of agricultural produce. Everv market committee shall consist ·of the following members to be l1~mJinated by the State. Government ,namely :-

(i) Deputy Director of Horticulture of the area who shall be the ex- Hiclo president of the committee,

Deputy Director c f Agriculture of the area,

Deputy Director of Animal.Husbandry of the area, one member of the Co-operative Societies holding licence ill the market area,

one member from the traders holding licence in the market area, two farrners ' representatives of the area,

one. member from the Urban Development-and Homing ..Depnt- ment.

(ii)

(i i.i)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(2) The non-official members shall-hold office for a period of five years commen- . .dng from the date-of the first. mee\)i'ng of the. market committee.

(3) The o ff1cial members shall cease to hold office, if'he ceases to he it member of the category of persons from which he was nominated.

(+) A member shall also cease whold of'ficeif he ,resigns his membership.and.the same is accepted by the market committee or if 'he is removed by the State Government. .

(~) Whenever any vacancy occurs in membership . for any of the reason afore- said the said vacancy shall he ,filled in the same manner and such member shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member in whose place he is nominated.

(6) Notwithstanding any vacancy, the market .committee shall be conipetent'to exercise its powers ancl.pcrform its duties and none of its act shall be-question- eel merely on the ground. of the existence of any vacancy or any defectun its constitution.

CHAPTER - IV

POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF MARKET COMMITFEE

The president shall exercise such ,powers. and, perform such duties on ':beh

. of the committee under this,Act.and -thc rules 'made thereunder 3snnay be prescri bed.

(2) The president shall preside at every meeting of the market committee and in .his absence the member.s .present-shnll.elcct oae.from amongst ~themselve'S:t(} .. .preside over. that meetilfg .

(I) .No business shall be transacted .atany.meetin:g of,the market committee-uniess-

(a) the Secretary, under the· d irection.of rpresidenr calls for metlf~ng on a requisition made.by.the-rnembers.es prescribed ; and

(b) there is quorum. The quorum referred to in clause (b) of-sub-section (1) shall he one-third of the tot al number of the members of the market committee. If at any meet- ing there is 110 quorum, the meeting-shal] stand adjourned to some future day to be appointed by rhe p-esident 0" any member who may preside at the mt:cting, as the case may· he. The members pj'esent at such adjourned mee- ting sha II form a quorum whatever, their number may be.

(J) The functions of a market committee shall. be ,-

(i) to maintain and manage the market yard and to control, regulate and run the market in the ·interest 'of agric\'llturist and traders ho!tung licence from the ·market· yard .cornmittee ;

to regulate and control transactions in' the market and to deal with any defaulting licence holder wirh respect .to any notified agricultural produce j

to control and ,'egulate the admission in the markets, to determine the .conditions .Ior ~use .of .t.he. m~rkf't ~ncl. t{\ n,.."opl""t., ~n·r1 ~",.,f;<""".,""

(ii)

(iii)

5

.~:' ~.; "

. :. ' :'~'.:.' ' , .. ;

Powers of .... 1'7. the market

committee ... , Duties' of

the market

committee

.,

Appo.int- . ment of sub- committee and joint .. committee.

,I,.:

Appoint- ^i,o..

(i) ment of secretary (1) and other officer and staff.

Execution. ^21. of contract •. Power .to .'.' ^1L, levy-feel.,

'.,.;'.

Market'

committee

funds.

23·

Contnihu-.

bution to

? ••..

6.

.to~ettle all disputes betweeajhe sdlera:nd the buyer a:rhng out of i..ny' kind tif transaction connected w.ith;hc:: jruI.rkectltlg- (0f no~a64 'agl.:.lcuhur~J producein the manner prescribed ,; . .::(~.)' . to briilg, proseC1.lte or defend or aid in ',bringing. prosecuting OT def- ending ny suit, action, proceeding, application OJ' arbitration ol)oehalf , of the. market committee ; .."

to 'pm'chase; hire or acquire any Iand or pther movable 01' immovable propert), [or the purpose of its business, to raise fund from the State Government, or t.o enter into "-lT~ngement 'with loca, other authority with the approve I of the Board for the said pUJ pcs~ ;

. (Iv) (vii') to levy and recover market ch;;rges, fee on agl'icultural, he rticuhurcl , animal husbandry and forest produces and 10 impose finer And penal- ties with the approval of the State Governmcnt ;

(v:iii) to do such other things as may be required Ior ihe pllfpOM of achi c- ving the objects and purp()ses of' this Act and the rules ar d by{'.'I.ws made thereunder, .

.J... market committee sha 11have the power to regulate entry of pc vsons ir.te the principal or sub-marker yanI, to supervise the behaviour of the penc,l'l so entered [or business and to take disciplinary action agaimt the Licensee. who fail., tofulfill the conditions of the licence or any direction of the In lrket com- mittee issued under the pr()vision, 01: this Act or ,the rules or b,.e.law-~ made , thereunder.

It shall he the duty of every market committee te enforce the ploVI~IOn! of this Act, the conditions of licence granted under the rules and bye ..laws made under the Act in the market area and to provide such facilities a~; the Srate (;ovel7uncnt may, from time to time, direct irreonnectlon with the purchase ;!nd or sale of notified agl'icultu.ral produce.

A market committee may appoint a sub- committee or a joint committee or , an sdhoc xommittee from among~t its members f6r the administration of the sub-market yard, for Icporting or recommending 01" d~ciding ~.nymatter or martersrrelating t hereto vand may delegate to such comrnitree such of lts duties as it may think fir.There shall he atleast' three "members in such committee .

. Every market committee shall' have ~ Secretary 'appointed by the Stjlt« Government subject to such terms and conditions, as niay be prescribed. A market committee may also, with the approval' of the Board, employ lIuch other-officers and staff as inay be necessary forfhe mal,agement ofthe marl;:l'lt on such terms and conditions at may be prescribed.

.Every contract entered illtoby a market committee shall be in y,T.itint ;r,Rq shall he executed by the president and eecrctary of the committee. A marketcomitlitte~ shall levy and collect fees on the aglicultural pro· '. duce bought or' sold in the no.tfied market area at it rate approved by thl! . Hoard and concurred by the State. Government for which an agriculttiraJ pro· duce is bought or sold whether for cash Of. for deferred paym.eJ~1 or other valuahle 'consideration

Provided that »

(a) no fee shall be leviable in respect of ~ny transaction in which deljve:ry of the agricultural produce bought or sold is not actually made ; and

(b) a fee shall be leviable only on the parties to a Iransaction in which deliver), is actually mad".

All money received by a market committee shall be paid into a fund to be ca lled "The Market Commit tee Fund" and all expendilure incur red by the market committee under or for the purpose of this Act shall be. dfrayed out of the said fund, Any .,>urplus remaining with the market cornmirtee after such expenditure shall be invested in such manner as may be pres: ribed. Every market committee shan, ourof irs ftmd, contribute to th~~ Ihard a sum Ilolexc:eeding twenty five per cent or the moncy received bv it as rna~ be der

6

Purposes for which market

committee fund shall be expen- ded.

Mis-appli- cation of fund.

Power to borrow. Acquisirion 2R. of land for the pur-

pose of this Act.

No trade 2.,. allmvance

permissible except as

prescri bed. Members of 3^0. the market

7

- (i) (ii) The fund of the market committee shall be expended for (he following purpOS(;S, namely ;-

maintenance and improvement of the market ;

construction and repair of buildings necc~~ary for the purposes of such market and for the health convenience and safety of the persons u~ing it ;

pay, pensions, allowances, gratUities, compensations for injuries resulting from accidents during duty and compassionate allowances of its employees and payment of honorarium to president, vice-presi- dent and members of the market commit-tee and travelling allowance payable to them for attending the meeting j

expenses connected with the collection and dissemination of infor- mation regarding matters relati.ng to crop statistics and marketing in respect of the agricultural produce j

contribution to the Board under section 26 ;

acquisition of a site for the market ;

payment of interest on ihe loans that may he raised for the purpose of the market and the provisions of sinking fund in respect of such fund ;

other expenses connected with the carrying out the purposes of this Act and the rules and bye-laws made rhereunder. (iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

26. If a market committee incurs an expenditure for any purpose other than those specified under section 25 or in excess of (he expenditure approved by the Board then it shall he deem_eel to be a mis-application of the fund. 27· (I) A market committee may, with the pre':iou,: sanction of the State Govern- ment, raise money required for carrying out the p11rposes ['or which it is esta- blished on the security of any property vested in it and of any fees leviable by it under t-his Act.

(2) A market committee may, for the purpose of meeting the initial expenditure on lands, bUildings, equipments and manpovyer for establishing the market, obtain assistance or grants from the State Government and 10]11 from the State Government or any financial institution.

(3) The conditions subject to which such money or loan shall be raised or oht- ained and at the time which the same be repayable shall be subject to t lio pre vious sanction of the State Government.

(2)

The State Government n12_yon the request of the Board or a market commi- trce , acquire land required for the pm-poses of this Act. The Board or ma rket committee sha II be deemed to be a loco I J uthority for the purposes of the Sikkim Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1977. CHAPTER - V

Trade allowance

No person shall make or recover any trade allowance other than an allowance prescribed by rules or bye-laws nude under this Act in any market area in any transaction in respect of the not-ified agricultural produce and no Civil Court shall, in any suit or proceeding arising out of any such transaction, have regard to or recognise any trade allowance not so prescribed.

Explanation : Every deduction, other than a deduction on account of deviation from sample when the purchase is made by sample, or on account of deviation 11'0111standard, when the purchase is made by reference to known standard, or on account of difference between the actual weights of the con- tainer and the standard weight or on account of the admixt ure of foreign matter shall be regarded as a trade allowance for the purpose of this section. CHAPTER - VI

Miscellaneous

The State Government may, on the recommendation of the market commi- ttee supported by at least'two-third of the total members or on the reCO!11I1l- ---1,.:"" or the Board, remove any member of the market committee, if such -. ~- ~-- r~"Q'·nmp.nL been ruilty of mis-

Members to 3 I • be held res- ponsible

fOJ· mis-

application

of fund.

Power to

inspect.

Duty to fur- 33· nhh infor-

mat ion to

the State

Govern-

ment or

other auth-

oriscd

officer.

Power of 34· (I) the Board

111

emer- gency. ⁽²⁾ Recovery of loss .. Sup~rsess- 36. ion of mar- ket commi- ttee.

Conseo uen- 37. ocs fo'Uow- ing supcr-

seSS,Ol.1 or

8

Provided th~t no crcler for rerr o vol of vny me mber shall be passed by,. the SLlle Cr.vcrnment unless the ruerrricr has been given a reasonahle oppor~ tllnity of showing CZ,lbC why such c.'nh'T should not ,be passe d :

Provided further that 11(} recommendation shall be made by the .market committee or the Board unless the member has been given a reasonable, opp~ ortunity of showing cause why such rcco mmcndat ion should not be made. The dccisiou of the State Government under sub-section (I) shall be final. Every member of the market committee shall be personally liable for the mis- application or fund to which he shall have been a party, or 'which shall have happened thwugh, or been facilitated by, gross neglect of his duty as a mem- ber, and 11<0 nny be sued for recovery of the money so mis-applied. Any officer authoriscd by the State Government by order shall have power to inspect the accounts of the Board or any market committee or to institute an enquiry into the affairs of tlw Board or any market committee and to re- quire it (0 do a thing or 1.0 desist from doing any_ .thing such officer consider necl'ssary in t he interest of the Board or any market committee, as the case may he, and in C,Jse of non-compliance, (0 ask to furnish a written reply to him within ,1 rc.isonabic tirnc stating reasons thcrcfor.: ""

'When (he aifail's ()f' (h..~ Board or of a market committee arc illvestigated or the procu.:cling of such Board or committee are examined by the State Government or any officer as may be authoriscd by the State Government in this I)!·~haIf, all officers Jnd staff, members of' the Board and of such commi- ttee shall furnish such information in their l)ossession in rt~?,ard to the affairs - 0

Board or committee as the State Government or suchor proceedhws of the officer may l:~~guire.

. ,...:~. In case of an el11C1'gcney the Board may suspend-or cancel all or any licence issued under the provisicns of ths Act and take such other steps as may be deemerl necc5s2ry in t-he interest of a market.

Where a market committee is not cOlllpetent to perform the duties imposed on it hy or under (his Act or under orders or decision, of a court; the Board shal] make such alTJngc:ment for performing such duties and functions of-such market committee as it may .lccm fit. -,,'1,

Any loss rhar may OCCLlI' to a market committcc due to its failure to carry, "

out an)' instruction of t he Board, shall be recoverable from the member of th~ market committee alt cr due cl1C[lIiry and after gj.,'ing reasonable opportunilY of ~:ho\Villg cause t-o them ax ('0 why such loss should not be recovered from them.

(2) Any amount rcc:)vcrahk {'rom the plemll('l' of <1 market committee under this ~;ccf iOI1 ·~hi\II he rc~,lis«l as an arrear of puhl ic demand under the provl- r of 19 sions of the Sikkirn Public DCIll~l,(b Recovery Act, 1988.

(I) ^If'inllwcpiniol1^of(heS!akGovcrr.mcnt^amarket committee'^isincoin-^", petcnl to perform or lHT~;istently makes default in:perforIll]ng the dutiesim- posed on it hy or under this Act, or dvc rules and bye-laws framed thereu:i-Jd'er;'"

or if it abuses its powers, the State Government niay-, after giving the 'market' committee an opport unity to sumbir ..n explanation, if any, by notificatloii,' supersede such committee Cor a period not exceeding one year at a time or dlssolvc the committee and rcconst i+ut-: it as soon ax poss.ible. When a commi ttee is superseded or dissolved under sub-section (I), the State Government may appoint any perwn as an administrator to exercise and perform all powers, dut ics and functions of the market committee until a lH,W committee is constituted.

When "11 order or supersession or dissolution is passed under section 36, the following cbns'''1uences shall ensue, n,nlely :-

(a) all the members as well as the presidentcf the market ,committee _- shall, from the date of such supersession or dissolution, be"deerr{e'd~;'\;' A". • ' ••... : '

laIty ^for38. .mtraven- ion of sec- tion ^10.

Eviction of 39· viction of

encroacher

of market

yards.

Penalty for

+0. contraven- tion of sec- tion 31.

Penalty for -4- r • contraven-

tion of pro v i- sion of sec-

tion B.

President,

members

and staff of

market .p.

committees

to be pub-

lic servants.

Bar to suit +.l. in absence

of notice.

Trial of

offences.

9

(I» all assets vested on such committee shall, during the period oJ sup- ersession 01' dissolution, vest in the State Government subject to. all its liabiltties.

(2) On the expiration of the period Of ,uper,t'~ ~.on specified in the order, State Government may -

(a) extend the period of supersession For ~lI('h Further term as it J1ny con- sider necessary but not excl:fding a period of one year at a time ; 0.1'

(b) reconstitute the marker cornmitr-:e :

Provided that the State Government ])1.1)" at ;1.11)' time before the ex- piration of the period or sl.lpU'ses~ ion, t,ll«' .1e'; ion under clause (h) of this sub-section.

(3) On the reconstitution of the marker committe-e under sub-section (2), the Government shall transfer all assets aru] 1iahi! it. ;c.s of the market committee:

as on the date of such transfer to tl-I~' now 111;)1'1:(;[ committee. Whoever contravenes the provision:.; of' sub-section (2) of section. J 0 shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rup· ees and, in the case of continuinp cont r.ivcntion , with further fine which may extend to one hundred rupees pe;' day during which the contravention i, C01{- t inued after 1he convict ion.

Every encroacher of market yard 01' sub-market YM([ she 11 be from in such manner and proccdui (' as provided in the law for ill lc rcc for eviction of public pnmis('s,

evicted there

the time being

(1)

Whoever makes^orrecovers^anvtrade allowanceⁱⁿcontravention^oftherules 01' hye-l<'lws made under this Act shall, on conviction , he punj~h,'\ble with fil'le which may cxre.ncl to five hundrf'd rupees.

Ail fines and darnages recovered from an offender sh<111 be paid to the fund of the market committee concerned.

(2 )

(I) ^Ifanyoflicer^ormember^oftheBoard^01'amarket' committee^whenrequired to furnish information in regard to the athirs 01' proceeding of the Board or a market committee under section 33-

(il) Wilfully neglects or refuses to fur- nish any information ; or

(b) wilfully furnishes false information ; he shall, on conviction, be punish-

"hk with fine which may extend to Eve hundred r l1pees. The President, members, sccrerarv and other officers and stafF of the Board +5 of and " market committee shall he 'puhlic servants within the meaning of see- 1860 tion 2 I or the Indian Penal Code, r 860.

( I) No suit, prosecution or legal proceeding .hall lie. again,t the Board or a mar- ket cornrnit tee or anv rncm]» ..-r , office}" or sr."df 1 hereof, or Co.ny .lJeT~on acting under' the cl.ireclion· of such Board 01' market committe-e, (,oj, '1l1ylhing done or purported to be done in good faith under this Ad or .he rules or hye.Iaws made thereunder until the expiriltioll of two months next after notice in wri- ting ,tating the cause of action, the name and place of abode of the intending plaintiff and the relief' which he claims, has been in the case or BO

Evcrv such suit sha ll be barred Llnk~<,it' is insrit.ut cd within six months from lhe (!ale of' 'h(: al!e[Jdl cau..« of acrion , ,.,

(I) ^Nooffence under^thisActor,my rules^orbye-lows^madethe.rounder shall^be tried by a eourt other than the court of it MJgistrate of the First Class, No court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under this Act ex- cept on the complaint of' the secretary of 1h,~ Hoarel or or jhe market commi-

( 2)

Admiissi- H. bility of copy of en-

try as evi-

d~nce.

Power to +6. make rules.

10

A copy of any entry in any book, register or list r"'gulal~y kept in the c of business in the possession of a market ciommittee shall, if duly ce in such manner as may he prescribed be admissible in evidence of th. tence of such entrv and ~h~,l; h,: a(:mitteo ,.5 evidence (.f the matter a transaction therein' recorded in cvr-rv C'15(', where and t" the same ex- which the Ol"lglll

The State Government may either gcr"l'~r,,]jy or specially for the Board 01' market area or market an:",s mc.kc rules <.iter previous ilUblica\.ion for car ing out the purpo~,cs oj' (hi" ,A.d,

In p~rticular and without prejudice to the generali,y of rhe foregoing power, such rules may provid- Ior "if or .11lY 01 the following m .tt er , namelv ;-

(a) the power (:0 De (cxu'c;~t(l ;)J1d rhe duties to be performed by a marke committee and its prl-:.sid(·nt 4~.ndsecretary ;

the management of ihc market, minimum and maximum fee whic. may be levied and collected by the market conmitree , the-method, manner and mod," of cOUcctioll of such fee ill respect of such; agricuh.ural produce sold and resold in the market area ; the i c j' .J 1 (' d i , ,e issue 01 ncences to traders, person ann nrms (ngage H1 processIng

01 agricultural produce, i0 commission agEnts, brokers, weighmen, surveyors, warehousemen and the cancellanon a: Id suspension of such licence and the category ·of such other persons ')perating in a market area as m"y be determined by the Board, 2nd tl e form in which and the conditions suhje<:t to which such licenses Shilll be issued, cance-' \led or renewed ;

the method and manner of holding me'~,ings, ~he procedure to be followed at such meerinc and the powers to be erercised at such mee-:

b

lings;

the persons hy whom and the form in 'which . opies of documents,' entries in the books of a market committee m',I be certified and the chal'bues to be /cyied for the sut.)]);y of' such copie. "

, 1..1 ~

the kind and. clcscripi ion of ~h? \'/1.']gh1'" and r ieasures and weighing and measuring insrrurnents 'which shall he used in the transactions of agr.icultural produce ill any market areas ;

providing for the periodical ,inspection of all ',,,eights and measure's

and weighing and 111ea;"uri,ng in~~1T1J111ent~in l1~Cir. market areas the manner in which; he inquiry and inspection (,I' the Board or market committee shall be hdd ;

the matter in r('spect of which r he Board OJ' 111.rkct committee may make bye ..laws and 1he procedures io he fo llowe l in making, amen- ding or rescind.ing the bye-laws ;

the declaration or the n1~.rk(=:tp1"oiJ(~rand rn;:rkf1. v, rds ; the condition 0)" service, recruitment, 'prov;d~1 t fund, pension, and such other terms and conditions

the ,provi.sion of accommodation For storing «n:: ,agricultural produce

brollght Into the markct ; the p,'cpJ.l'atioi\ 0(' plans and ,~,:',i!11"i",:; for work.: proposed tobe cons-:

1ruCU~<1p,"rHy or \1'11.;,,11-:;~i: \h'~ C'XDen3C~ of <:11; market committee J th ,.. ) '"1 ann l (: gr(\r;y Pi" ~~;;nctjon to such pL'n!~ zn e~~'"rnates , the form in which 1.i1<-::lCC()LInl:; 01,' ,'he~ l~D;;]'d (,.- a market committee

Bye-laws POW'~I' of State Gov- ernment to cal] for pro- ceedings of market

12

IJ

I.