Definitions.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

(a) “cocoon” includes cocoon produced by mulberry silkworms, tussar silkworms, muga silkworms and eri silkworms, either green or stifled, live or pierced, dried or in any other state or conditions;

(b) "Director" means the 1[Director of Industries and Commerce, Tamil Nadu];

(c) "Government" means the State Government;

(d) "licensed buyer" means a person in charge of a charka establishment or a filature establishment licensed under this Act to purchase silkworm cocoons for reeling silk.

Explanation:- In this clause "charka establishment" means an establishment where silk is reeled from silkworm cocoons with the help of any indigenous contrivance utilizing manual labour for turning the reels and direct fire for heating the water for cooking and reeling cocoons; and "filature establishment" means an establishment where silk is reeled from silkworm cocoons by utilizing power for turning the reels and steam for cooking and reeling cocoons;

(e) "rearer" means a person engaged in rearing silkworms for the production of silkworm cocoons, whether for reproduction or reeling;

(f) "rearing" includes all operations from the incubation of silkworm eggs and brushing of silkworms to the harvesting of cocoons;

(g) ”silkworm” includes mulberry silkworms, tussar silkworms, muga silkworms and eri silkworms;

(h) "silkworm seed" means silkworm cocoons, moths, eggs or young silkworms of whatever description intended to be used for the purposes of reproduction or rearing.

(2) If any question arises, whether:- (a) any contrivance is a charka or not; or (b) any crop is a cocoon crop or not; or (c) any establishment is a filature or not,

the question shall be decided by the officer in-charge of the Sericultural section of the 1[Department of Industries and Commerce, Tamil Nadu] and his decision thereon shall be final.