The Chhattisgarh Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2013

(1) This Act may be called the Chhattisgarh Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2013. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Chhattisgarh. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette appoint.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Appellate Authority" means an officer or Authority authorized by the State Government to hear appeal under Chapter-III of this Act; (b) "Controlling Authority" means the Controlling Authority appointed under Section 3; (c) "Domestic Worker" means a person engaged, through Private Placement Agency, to do domestic work; (d) "Government" means the Government of Chhattisgarh; (e) "Licence" means a licence granted under Section 5; (f) "Notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette; (g) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (h) "Private Placement Agency" means a person or body of persons other than a Government Agency, Department or Organization engaged in the business of providing work to any woman as domestic worker beyond the boundaries of Chhattisgarh; (i) "Woman" means a woman as defined under Section 10 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (No. 45 of 1860). (2) Words and expressions not defined in this Act shall have the same meaning as defined under any other corresponding law for the time being in force.

The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,- (a) Appoint any person not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, to be

No person or Private Placement Agency shall carry on or commence the business of Private Placement Agency, unless he holds a Licence issued under this Act : Provided that a Private Placement Agency which came into existence before the notification of this Act, shall obtain Licence within Ninety days of the notification of this Act.

(1) Every application for grant of Licence under Section 4 shall be in such form and manner as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by fee of Rs. 5,000 and Bank Guarantee of Rs. 1 lakh. (2) Controlling Authority may make such investigation in respect of the application received under sub-section (1) and in making such investigation the Controlling Authority shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed. (3) A Licence shall be issued on such terms and on such conditions as may be prescribed. (4) A Licence issued under this Section shall remain valid for a period of five years and may be renewed from time to time on payment of such fees and on such condition as may be prescribed.

(1) If the Controlling Authority is satisfied either on the reference made to him in this behalf or otherwise, that- (a) a Licence issued under Section 4 has been obtained by misrepresentation or suppression of material fact, or (b) that the Licence holder has, without reasonable cause failed to comply with the conditions or contravened any of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder. then, without prejudice to any other penalty which the holder of the Licence is liable under this Act, the Controlling Authority may, after giving the holder of the Licence an opportunity to be heard by an order in writing revoke the Licence or forfeit the bank guarantee furnished under sub-section (1) of Section 5 by him or any part thereof and communicate the order to the holder of the licence : Provided that where the Controlling Authority considers it necessary so to do for special reasons, he may, pending such revocation or forfeiture, by order, suspend the Licence for such period as may be specified in the order and serve, by registered post, such order on the holder of the Licence. (2) Subject to any rules, that may be made in this behalf, the Controlling Authority may vary or amend a Licence issued under this Act.

(1) Any person aggrieved by an order, of the Controlling Authority, made under Section 5 or 6, may prefer an appeal, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, against the order to the Appellate Authority within a period of thirty days of the date of receipt of such order : Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if the appellant satisfies the Appellate Authority that he has sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within that period. (2) Before disposing of an appeal, the Appellate Authority shall give the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(1) The Private Placement Agency shall furnish the details of employment of Domestic Worker to the Controlling Authority within seven days from the date the woman was conveyed beyond the boundaries of State of Chhattisgarh. (2) No Private Placement Agency shall charge any fee by whatever name called from any domestic worker. (3) No Private Placement Agency shall employ, engage or deploy any woman, if she is below eighteen years of age. (4) Every Private Placement Agency shall display a signboard outside its office showing the name of Private Placement Agency and its Licence number. (5) Every Private Placement Agency shall maintain a register containing the names and addresses of domestic workers, who are engaged by it and also names and addresses of persons, where the women workers have been employed. (6) Other functions and duties of Private Placement Agencies shall be such, as may be prescribed.

(1) Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 4 of this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine which may extend to Rs. 1,00,000, or with both. (2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 8 or any of the rules made under this Act or any of the conditions of Licence, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to Rs. 50,000, or with both.

The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (No. 2 of 1974) relating to any search or seizure shall be, so far as may be, applicable to any search or seizure made under this Act.

This Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.

(1) The State Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions 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 following matters, namely :- (a) the form and manner in which the Licence is to be issued under sub section (1) of Section 5; (b) the investigation to be conducted under sub section (2) of Section 5; (c) terms and conditions subject to which such Licence is to be issued under sub section (3) of Section 5; (d) fees and conditions of renewal under sub section (4) of Section 5; (e) cancellation and suspension of Licence under Section 6; (f) the form and manner of appeal under sub section (1) of Section 7; (g) other functions and duties of Private Placement Agencies under sub section (6) of Section 8; and (h) any other matter which may be necessary to achieve the objects of this Act. (3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before the House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the House agrees in making any modification in the rule or the House agrees that the rules should not be made, and notify such decision in the Official Gazette, the rule shall from the date of publication of such notification have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against Controlling Authority or any other person in respect of anything done or intended to be done in good faith, under this Act.

All the offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provision of this Act, as may be necessary for removing the difficulty: Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the commencement of this Act.