The Punjab Livestock Improvement Act, 1953

(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Livestock Improvement Act, 1953. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may by notification appoint and different dates may be appointed for different areas.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) ‘approved bull’ means a bull certified under section 6 of this Act as fit for breeding purposes in a local area; (b) ‘bull’ means an uncastrated male calf of such age as the Central Government may prescribe for any local area; (c) ‘cow’ includes a heifer; (d) ‘Director’ means the Director of Veterinary Services Union Territory of Chandigarh; (e) ‘Livestock Officer’ means the Director and includes any other officer authorised by him to exercise all or any of the powers of a Livestock Officer under the Act; (f) ‘prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (g) a person is said to ‘keep a bull’ if he owns the bull or has the bull in his possession or custody, for the time being; (h) a bull is said to be ‘castrated’ if it is rendered incapable of propagating its species; and (i) ‘local area’ means the whole or a part of the area to which this Act applies, and in which an approved bull is, in the opinion of the Director, fit for breeding purposes.

In any area to which this Act applies, no person shall keep a bull except under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Every person, who, in any local area, keeps any bull which is not branded with a distinguishing mark as provided under this Act, shall give intimation of such possession to the Livestock Officer within such period as may be prescribed.

On receipt of the intimation under section 4, or on his own motion, the Livestock Officer may, by order in writing, require any person keeping a bull to present it for inspection at any reasonable time and at a place specified in the order and thereupon it shall be the duty of the person keeping the bull to produce it for inspection accordingly and render all reasonable assistance in connection with such inspection.

If the Livestock Officer on inspection is satisfied that the bull is fit for breeding purposes in the local area, he shall certify the bull as ‘approved’ and cause it to be branded with a mark prescribed for the purpose.

(1) If, after inspection, the Livestock Officer is satisfied that a bull is unsuitable for breeding purposes in a local area he shall cause it to be effectively castrated or specify by order a period during which such castration shall be effected. (2) Such castration shall be performed or caused to be performed by the Livestock Officer unless the owner or the other person keeping the bull desires to make his own arrangements for complying with the order and if the bull is not castrated within the time allowed by the Livestock Officer, then without prejudice to any action that may be taken under section 14, the Livestock Officer shall get the bull castrated. (3) The Livestock Officer shall cause every bull so castrated to be branded with the prescribed mark.

(1) If after such enquiry as the Livestock Officer may deem fit to make, he finds that any uncastrated bull is not possessed by a known owner or lessee, he shall cause the bull to be seized and inspected. (2) If, on such inspection, he finds the bull not to have been certified as ‘approved’ and branded with the appropriate mark, and if he finds such bull unfit for breeding purposes, he shall have it castrated and branded, and if he finds such bull fit for breeding purposes, he shall mark it as an approved bull.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Livestock Officer or any other officer or person authorised by him in this behalf shall have power at all reasonable times:— (a) to inspect any bull; (b) to brand any bull with a prescribed mark; (c) subject to such conditions and restrictions if any, as may be prescribed, enter any premises or other place where he has reason to believe that a bull is kept. (2) If the Livestock Officer finds that an approved bull has become unfit as an approved bull he shall deal with an unapproved bull in accordance with section 7.

Every castration or marking required to be done or made under this Act by a Livestock Officer shall be done or made free of charge.

Any notice or order which is to be given or served on any person under the provisions of this Act may be given or served on the owner or keeper of a bull primarily liable to comply with such notice or order and in case of doubt or where he is unknown, it may be given or served on the person last known as owner or keeper of the bull and any seizure or inspection under section 8, shall be deemed to have been correctly done after compliance with the notice aforesaid.

The Livestock Officer shall maintain in the prescribed form a register giving particulars of inspections, names of owners or keepers of bulls, branding, castrations made, and bulls approved and such other particulars as may be prescribed.

If any person without lawful authority brands or causes to be branded any bull with any mark prescribed under this Act, or with any mark resembling such prescribed mark, he shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 500 or both.

Whoever— (a) keeps a bull in contravention of any rule or order made under this Act, or (b) neglects or fails to present a bull for inspection when required to do so under the provisions of this Act, or obstructs an officer or person in the discharge of his functions under this Act or rules made thereunder, or (c) neglects or fails to comply with any order under this Act or rules thereunder, shall on conviction be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs. 50, and in the case of a second or subsequent offence with fine which may extend to Rs. 100.

No Magistrate or Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except upon a complaint made by a Livestock Officer or any person authorised by him in this behalf.

(1) No suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall lie against an officer or servant of the Central Government for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act. (2) No suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall lie against the Central Government for any damage caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or in pursuance of any rules made thereunder.

(1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for (a) -, (b) -, (c) the approved age of a bull for breeding purposes in any local area. (3) All rules shall be subject to the...