Chapter III Chapter III

Powers and Functions of the Council

Conduct of business.--(1) The Council shall meet for the conduct of business at least once in every six months and shall conduct its business in such manner and in accordance with such procedure as may be determined by regulations with the approval of the Government.

1. (2) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Council shall be ten members and the decision of the Council shall be by a simple majority of votes of the members present and in case of a tie the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
2. (3) The ex-officio members of the Council shall have no right to vote in the meetings of the Council.

Matters under the control and administration of the Council.--Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law for the time being in force in the State and any general or special direction by the Government, the Council shall have executive powers in the district in relation to--

1. (i) allotment, use and occupation of land vested in the Council by the Government under this Act;
2. (ii) formulation of development programme for the district in respect of District Component Schemes as notified by the Government and Centrally Sponsored Schemes and indicate priorities for various schemes and consider issues relating to the speedy development and economic upliftment of the district;
3. (iii) periodical review of the progress and achievements of development plans and schemes;
4. (iv) formulation and finalisation of the Budget (Plan and Non-Plan);
5. (v) laying down guidelines for implementation of schemes at grass root level.
6. (vi) special measures for employment generation and the alleviation of poverty;
7. (vii) promotion of co-operative institutions.
8. (viii) supervision and construction of notified areas committees;
9. (ix) formulation of periodical and annual plans for the district.
10. (x) promotion of languages and culture of the area;
11. (xi) management of undemarcated forests;
12. (xii) use of canal or water courses for the purposes of agriculture;
13. (xiii) desert development;
14. (xiv) public health and sanitation, hospitals and dispensaries;
15. (xv) construction and maintenance of roads except highways.
16. (xvi) preservation, protection and improvement of livestock and prevention of animal diseases;
17. (xvii) cattle pounds and the prevention of cattle trespass; (xviii) education;
18. (xix) works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the Council;
19. (xx) management of burial and burial grounds, cremation and cremation grounds;

1. (xxi) preservation of the environment and ecology of the area;
2. (xxii) local road transport and its development; (xxiii) fisheries;
3. (xxiv) small scale and cottage industries;
4. (xxv) non-conventional energy;
5. (xxvi) any other matter within the executive power of the State which may be entrusted by notification in the Government Gazette to the Council by the Government.

Power to levy and collect taxes and fee.--(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the Council shall have the power to--

1. (i) collect within the district, such taxes payable under any law as may be prescribed by the Government and credit the same to the Consolidated Fund of the State: Provided that the tax or taxes as aforesaid shall be collected by the Council from such date as may be appointed by the Government in this behalf by notification in the Government Gazette.
2. (ii) establish toll bars on any road or any bridge vested in it and under its management and levy toll on grass, vehicles, animals and ferries.

1. (2) The Council shall also have powers to impose any of the following taxes and fees, namely: Taxes :
   • (i) Taxes on any trade, calling or profession within jurisdiction of the Council subject to the maximum limit as indicated:
   • (a) on persons up to Rs 500/- per annum:
   • (b) in the case of theatre, cinema and other places of entertainment up to Rs. 250/- per day;
     • (ii) a tax payable by the owner thereof on animals and vehicles kept within the district and plied for hire at the following:
   • (a) in the case of animals, not exceeding Rs. 20/- per animal per annum;
   • (b) in the case of vehicles, not exceeding Rs. 100/- per vehicle per annum;
   • (c) in the case of tractor; not exceeding Rs. 100/- per tractor per annum:
     • (iii) tax on flats;
     • (iv) pilgrim tax;
     • (v) a tax on gharats, rice husking mills, brick kilns and oil mills;
     • (vi) tax on hawkers and pheriwalas;
     • (vii) such other tax as may be approved by the Government. Fees.-;
     • (viii) fees on person exposing goods and animals for sale in the market or melas;
     • (ix) fees for the use of slaughter houses and camping grounds ;
     • (x) fees for temporary occupation of village sites, roads and other similar public places or parts thereof in the district ;
     • (xi) fees on application for erection or re-erection of buildings ;
     • (xii) adda fee ;
     • (xiii) fee for grazing of cattle in the grazing lands vested in the Council :
     • (xiv) fee on cattle pounds :
     • (xv) such other fees as may be approved by the Government.
2. (3) The scales of taxes, tolls or rates and the terms and conditions for the imposition thereof shall be such as may be provided by bye-laws. Such bye-laws may provide for exemption from all or any of the taxes, tolls or rates in any class of cases.