Chapter II GOSEVA AYOG

1. (1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as "the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog" to exercise the powers conferred upon and to perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
2. (2) The Goseva Ayog shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and may by the said name sue or be sued.
3. (3) The head office of the Goseva Ayog shall be at such place, as may be prescribed.
4. (4) The Goseva Ayog shall consist of the following members, namely :- (a)one non-official member from the Chairperson; members specified in clause (p) to be nominated by the GovernmentChairperson; (b)the Commissioner, Animal Husbandaryex officio member ; (c)the Commissioner, Agricultureex officio member ; (d)the Commissioner, Diary Developmentex officio member ; (e)the Commissioner, Transportex officio member ; (f)an officer to be nominated by the Director General of Police, not below the rank of the Deputy Inspector General of Policeex officio member ; (g)the joint Secretary or Deputy Secretary, Animal Husbandaryex officio member ; (h)an officer to be nominated by the Charity Commissioner, not below the rank of Deputy Charity Commissionerex officio member ; (i)an officer to be nominated by the Rural Development Department, not below the rank of the Deputy Secretaryex officio member ; (j)an officer to be nominated by the Rural Development Department, not below the rank of the Deputy Secretaryex officio member ; (k)an officer to be nominated by the Urban Development Department, not below the rank of the Deputy Secretaryex officio member ; (l)an officer to be nominated by the Home Department, not below the rank of the Deputy Secretaryex officio member ; (m)an officer to be nominated by the Forests Department, not below the rank of Deputy Secretaryex officio member ; (n)the director (Extension) of the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpurex officio member; (o) the Director (Extension) of the Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri or an officer to be nominated by the Director (Extension) having expertize in the field of Fooder Development ex officio member; (p) nine non-official persons or represntatives of the non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or Gosadan, Goshala, Panjarpol and Gorakshan Sanstha, etc. or their federation or union. Who, in the opinion of the Government have experience of the following fields, to be nominated by the State Government:-
   • (i) cattle welfare;
   • (ii) animal management;
   • (iii) veterinary science;
   • (iv) diary development or diary technology;
   • (v) biotechnology and biodiversity;
   • (vi) marketing;
   • (vii) law;
   • (viii) social work; or
   • (ix) modern technology, Processing industry and treatment under various modern as well as indigenous pathies. members ; (q)an officer to be nominated by the Government not below the rank of Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandarymember-secretary.
5. (5) The appointment of the non-official members shall take effect from the date on which their names are published in the Official Gazette.
6. (6) The post of the Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandry shall be created, who shall discharge his duty as a member secretary of the Goseva Ayog.
7. (7) If the office of the Chairperson is vacant or if the Chairperson is absent, then the Commissioner, Animal Husbandry shall discharge the functions of the Chairperson.

1. (1) Subject to the pleasure of the Government, the Chairperson and non-official members of the Goseva Ayog, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of their appointments are notified in the Official Gazette, unless terminated earlier by the State Government.
2. (2) The non-official members shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed.
3. (3) A non-official member may resign from his office in writing addressed to the State Government.

A person shall be disqualified for being appointed as, or for being continued as, the Chairperson or member, as the case may be, if he,-

1. (a) is not a citizen of India;
2. (b) has not attained the age of twenty-one years;
3. (c) is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court;
4. (d) is convicted for an offence involving moral turpitude;
5. (e) has been removed or dismissed from the service of the Government; and
6. (f) is an undischarged insolvent.

1. (1) The State Government may remove any non-official member, who,-
   • (a) has been disqualified under section 5;
   • (b) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting;
   • (c) is, without obtaining leave of absence from the Goseva Ayog, remains absent for three consecutive meetings of the Goseva Ayog, or
   • (d) has, in the opinion of the State Government so abused the position of the Chairperson or member, so as to render his continuance in the office detrimental to the interests of the Goseva Ayog.
2. (2) No order of removal under sub-section (1) shall be made, unless the non-official member has been given reasonable opportunity of being heard; and when such order is passed, the office of the member so removed shall be deemed to be vacant.
3. (3) A member who has been so removed under sub-section (1) shall not be eligible for reappointment as a member or on any other post of the Goseva Aayog.

1. (1) Any casual vacancy occurred due to death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a non-official member shall be filled as early as possible.
2. (2) A member appointed under sub-section (1) shall hold office so long as the member in whose place he has been appointed would have held office if the vacancy had not occurred.

1. (1) The Goseva Ayog shall hold meetings at least four times in a year and shall keep record of its proceedings in a minute book.
2. (2) The meetings of the Goseva Ayog shall be convened and presided over by the Chairperson.
3. (3) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, the Goseva Ayog may observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including the quorum there at) as may be specified by regulations.

No act or proceeding of the Goseva Ayog shall be invalid merely on the ground of the existence of any vacancy, or any defect, in the constitution of the Goseva Ayog.

Subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, the State Government may, for the purpose of enabling the Goseva Ayog to efficiently discharge its functions under this Act, provide such number of officers and other employees as may be considered necessary.

The Goseva Ayog shall perform the following functions, namely :-

1. (a) to register Institutions under this Act;
2. (b) to ensure protection given to cattle under any law for the time being in force;
3. (c) to ensure proper and timely implementation of programs and schemes of the State Government for development of Gosadan, Goshala, Panjarpol and Gorakshan Sanstha;
4. (d) to ensure active participation of the Institutions in the development of indigenous breed of cattle specially of the State of Maharashtra;
5. (e) to promote health care of cattle;
6. (f) to ensure care and management of cattle seized for violation of any enactment for the time being in force;
7. (g) to ensure proper management, care and treatment of infirm, aged and diseased cattle maintained by the Institutions;
8. (h) to ensure implementation of awareness and training programme for farmers and other stakeholders regarding cattle management;
   • (i) to ensure active co-operation of Institutions in the conservation and development of indigenous breed of cattle;
9. (j) to ensure and monitor the implementation of bovine breeding policy of the State of Maharashtra;
10. (k) to supervise and inspect the Institutions;
11. (l) to promote cultivation and production of improved variety of fodder, fodder-seed and pasture development activities;
12. (m) to co-ordinate with the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur and other Research Institutions dealing with cattle and fodder development programs and to ensure active participation of the Institutions to adopt new scientific technology;
13. (n) to co-ordinate with universities and other Research Institutes to develop and get their support to adopt new scientific technologies for breed improvement, fodder development and industries based on dung, urine, biogas, etc.;
14. (o) to suggest such measures which may be helpful in strengthening of the Institutions which are economically weak;
15. (p) to give financial assistance to the Institutions;
16. (q) to enquire into complaints in the functioning of any Institution;
17. (r) to review the activities of prevention of cruelty to cattle;
18. (s) to review the activities of District Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals;
19. (t) to ensure implementation of the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder;and
20. (u) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed.