The Assam Jute (Control of Prices) Act, 1950

ASSAM ACT XV GF 1950 *TH E ASSAM JIJTE (CONTROL OF PRICES) ACT, 1950 [Published in the “Assam Gazette” , dated the 19th Apri l 1950] An Act to provide for the Control of the price of JuO Whereas it is necessary to provide tor the contro l of the price of jute in the manner here inafter appearing : It is hereby enacted as follows 1. Short title, extent and commencement—(1) This Act may be called the Assam Jute (Control of Prices) Act, 1950. (2) It extends to the whole of Assam. (3) It shall come into force at once. 2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the sub­ ject or context,— (a) “jute” means the fibre of any plan t belonging to any species of the genus Corchorus and commonly called par, kosta natia ; ■For Rules see Notificat ion No.RSB.2/50/42, dated1 30th Octo ber 1950. *Fo r Statement of Objects and Reasons see “ Assam Gazette” , 1950, Pa rt V, pages 67-68. 346 (b) “pucca bale” means a package containing any jute or jute cuttings (together with any waste produc t or moisture, if any) pressed by any hydraulic or any power -driven machinery and commonly know n in the jute trade as a pucca bale ; (c) “raw jute” means jute which has not been subjected to any process of spinning or weaving and includes jute or jute cuttings, whether loose or packed in bales or drums and whether or not containing any waste prod uct or mois ture ; (d) “surplus raw jute” means raw jute in the possession or control of any person in excess of the quantity for which he holds for the time being a valid export license under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. 1947 (Act XV III of 1947) ; (e) “waste produc t” means strippings, odd filaments or fragments, drop- . pings, sweepings, or other waste produc t of jute and includes also articles commonly known in the jute trade as hiji biji. 3. Maximum prices.—(1) Th e State Government may by notification in the Official Gazet te fix the maximum prices which may be charged for pucca bales or for surplus raw jute .(not being pucca bales). (2) Different maximum prices may be fixed under sub-sectioa (1) for ; pucca bales or surplus raw jute (no t being pucca bales), accord ing to the quality, variety or trad e descrip tion of the jut e or jute cuttings contained in such pucca bales or accord ing to the quality, varie ty or trade description of such surplus raw jute. 4. Sale and purchase to be at prices not exceeding maximum.—No person shall sell or agree to sell or offer to sell and no person shall buy or agree to buy or offer to buy any pucca bales or any surplus raw jute (not being pucca bales) or any port ion of any surplus raw jute at a price exceeding the maximum price fixed therefor under section 3. 5. Power of State Government to issue directions in respect of surplus raw jute.—The State Government may by order in writing direc t any person having any surplus raw jute in his possession or control to sell such surplus raw jute or any por tion thereof to any specified person or persons at a price no t exceeding the maxim um price fixed therefor under section 3 and the person so directed : shall comply with the order. 6. Power to require information, etc.—The State Government or any officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government may. with a view to securing compliance with this Act,— (a) requ ire any person to give any information in his possession with res- ; pect to any business in jute carried on by tha t or any other person; | (b) inspect or cause to be inspected any books or othe r documents belong- ' ing to or under the control of any person rela ting to any business ■ in ju te ; (c) enter and search, or authorise any person to ente r and-s ear ch, any premises, and seize, or authorise any person to seize, any pucca bales or surplus raw jute in respect, of which he has reason to believe that a contravention of this Ac t has been committed. 7. Evasion.—No person shall, with inten t to evade anv provision of this Act, refuse to give any informat ion lawfully demanded from him under section 6, or conceal, destroy, mutila te or deface any book or document. 347 8. " Penalties.—Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or of any order made thereunder shall be punishable with impr isonm ent for a term which may extend to three years or with line or with both. 9. Offences by corporations, etc.—Where a person committing an offence punishab le under this Ac t is a company or an associa tion or a body of persons whether incorporated or not, every Directo r, Manager, Secretary or other Officer or person concerned in the management thereof shall, unless he proves tha t the offence was commit ted without his knowledge or tha t he exercised all due dili­ gence to prevent its commission, be deemed to be guilty of such offence. 10. Repeal awl Savings.—(Ij Ih e Assam Jut e (Control of Prices) Ordi­ nance, 195Q (Assam Ordinance No .l of 1950), is hereby repealed. Notwithstandin g such repeal anything done or any action taken in the exercise of any power conferred by or under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken in the exercise of the powers confered by or under this Act, as if this Act were in force on the day on which such thing was done or action taken.