Chapter I PRELIMINARY

(1) This Act may be called the Himachal Pradesh Livestock and Birds Diseases Act, 1968. (2) It extends to the whole of Himachal Pradesh. (3) This section shall come into force at once and the Government may, by notification, bring the rest of the Act or any part of it into force in Himachal Pradesh or in any area in Himachal Pradesh on such date and for such period as may be specified in the notification.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 1, the Government may, by notification, exempt any area from any or all of the provisions of this Act, or direct that any provision of this Act shall apply to any area with such modifications as may be specified.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,- (a) 'an infective livestock or bird' is one which is affected with a scheduled disease or has recently been in contact with or in close proximity to livestock or bird so affected ; (b) 'bird' means a domesticated fowl, goose or chick, and includes such other bird as may from time to time be specified by the Government by notification ; (c) 'Government' means the Government of Himachal Pradesh; (d) 'livestock' means all domesticated animals maintained on farms or by individuals including horses, donkeys, mules elephants, cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, dogs, cats or such other animals as may, from time to time, be specified by the Government by notification. (e) 'notification' means notification published under proper authority in Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh; (f) 'Official Gazette' means Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh; (g) 'prescribed' means prescribed by regulations or rules made under this Act; and (h) 'schedule' means schedule to this Act.

The diseases specified in the schedule shall in the first instance be scheduled diseases for the purpose of this Act, but the Government may, by notification,- (a) delete any entry from the schedule, or (b) include in the schedule any communicable disease of livestock or birds to which it is expedient in their opinion that the provision of this Act should apply.

(1) The Government may either by name or by designation appoint any person holding the office of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, or any graduate of a recognised Veterinary College whom they think fit to be a Veterinary Surgeon for the purposes of this Act, and may define the area within which he shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of a Veterinary Surgeon under this Act. (2) A Veterinary Surgeon shall have all the powers of an Inspector under this Act, and may exercise such powers concurrently with his powers as Veterinary Surgeon.

The Government may either by name or by designation appoint any person it thinks fit to be an Inspector for any or all of the purposes of this Act, and may define the area within which he shall exercise the powers and perform the duties incidental to such purposes.

Any person appointed under section 5 or section 6 shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21, of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (45 of 1860).

An Inspector may, subject to any rules made in this behalf by the Government, enter and inspect any land or building or other place or any vessel or vehicle for the purpose of exercising the powers or performing the duties conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act.