The Tamil Nadu Horse Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) Act, 1979

TAMIL NADU HORSE RACES (ABOLITION OF TURF AGENCIES) ACT, 1979 (TAMIL NADU ACT NO 55 OF 1979)

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Horse Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) Act, 1979.
2. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 19th October 1979.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. (a) "bet" includes wager;
2. (b) "Government" means the State Government;
3. (c) "horse" means a male horse and includes mare, gelding, filly, pony or any other horse by whatever name called;
4. (d) "horse-race" means any race in which any horse runs or is made to run in competition with any other horse,-
   • (i) for any prize of whatever nature or kind, or
   • (ii) for any bet made or to be made, or
   • (iii) for both such prize and bet, in respect of any such horse, or the rider thereof;
5. (e) "turf agency" means any agency which carries on the business of,-
   • (i) receiving bets from the public in general, or
   • (ii) purchasing tickets on behalf of punters, or
   • (iii) making bets on behalf of punters, for commission or remuneration in respect of any horse run in a horse-race or in respect of any rider of such horse;
6. (f) "turf agent" includes any person who, by way of business,-
   • (i) receives bets from the public in general, or
   • (ii) purchases tickets on behalf of punters, or
   • (iii) makes bets on behalf of punters, for commission or remuneration in respect of any horse rim in a horse-race or in respect of any rider of such horse.

The system of carrying on the business of a turf agency or a turf agent in respect of any horse-race is hereby abolished.

No person shall carry on the business of a turf agency or a turf agent in respect of any horse-race.

Any person who contravenes or abets the contravention of the provisions of section 4 or any rules made under this Act shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a period which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

1. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in-charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary, or other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation. - For the purposes of this section,-
   • (a) "company" means any body corporate, and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
   • (b) "director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.

1. (1) No suit or other proceeding shall lie against the Government for any act done or purporting to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.
2. (2) No suit, prosecution or other proceeding shall lie against any authority or officer, or servant of the Government for any act done or purporting to be done in good faith under this Act or any rule made thereunder.

1. (1) The Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) All rules made under this Act shall be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and, unless they are expressed to come into force on a particular day, shall come into force on the day on which they are so published.
3. (3) Every rule made under this Act shall, as soon as possible, after it is made, be placed on the table of [the Legislative Assembly] and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so placed or the next session, [the Legislative Assembly agrees] in making any modification in any such rule or [Legislative Assembly agrees] that the rule should not be made, the rule shall, thereafter, 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 under that rule.

The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force, or any custom, usage or decree or order of a Court or other authority.

1. (1) The Tamil Nadu Horse Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) Ordinance, 1979 (Tamil Nadu Ordinance 20 of 1979), is hereby repealed.
2. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance including any rules made shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act and shall continue in force accordingly, unless and until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.