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VETERINARY COUNCIL ACT, 1984
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The question of establishing the Statutory Veterinary Council, of India and State Veterinary Councils for regulating veterinary practice on the analogy of the Medical Council of India has been under consideration of the Government of India for some time past. The National Commission on Agriculture has recommended in their Report that high priority should be given for the formation of statutory veterinary councils. As early as 1951 the All-India Veterinary Association under the chairmanship of the then Minister of Food and Agriculture appointed a Steering Committee to go into the question of establishing Veterinary Councils. The Steering Committee re- commended that State Veterinary Councils may be formed by legislation in the States and a Statutory National Veterinary Council should be set up to co-ordinate the functions of State Veterinary Councils. The Committee also recommended the immediate formation of an interim veterinary Council as a preliminary step to the formation of Statutory Veterinary Council of India. 2. Since the subject of veterinary training and practice is covered by entry 15 in the State List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, a legislation to constitute veterinary councils can be enacted only by recourse to clause (1) of article 252 of the Constitution. The Legislatures of the States of Bihar, Haryana, and Orissa have passed the necessary resolutions. Hence this Bill. 3. The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of an All-India Veterinary Council and State Veterinary Councils to control and regulate the conduct of veterinary practitioners and for the maintenance of registers of Veterinary Practitioners. The notes on clauses explain the various provisions made in the Bill.-Gaz. of India. 23-12-1981, Pt. II, S. 2, Ext., p. 1005 (No. 65).
An Act to regulate veterinary practice and to provide, for that purpose, for the establishment of a Veterinary Council of India and State Veterinary Councils and the maintenance of registers of the veterinary practitioners and for matters connected therewith. WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for the regulation of veterinary practice and to provide, for that purpose, for the establishment of a Veterinary Council of India and State Veterinary Councils and the maintenance of registers of persons qualified to engage in veterinary practice for the whole of India for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto; AND WHEREAS Parliament has no power to make laws for the States with respect to any of the matters aforesaid except as provided in articles 249 and 250 of the Constitution; AND WHEREAS in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution, resolutions have been passed by all the Houses of the Legislatures of the States of Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan to the effect that the matters aforesaid should be regulated in those States by Parliament by law. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called THE INDIAN VETERINARY COUNCIL ACT, 1984.
(2) It extends, in the first instance, to the whole of the States of Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and to all Union territories; and it shall also extend to such other States as may adopt this Act by resolution passed in that behalf in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution.
(3) It shall come into force in a State or Union territory to which it extends, or may become extended in future, on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appoint- ed for different provisions of this Act or for different States or Union territories.
SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "Council" means the Veterinary Council of India established under section 3;
(b) "member" means a member of the Council;
(c) "prescribed" means prescribed .by rules made under this Act;
(d) "President" means the President of the Council:
(e) "recognised veterinary qualification" means any of the veterinary qualifications included in the First Schedule or the Second
Schedule;
(f) "register" means a register maintained under this Act;
(g) "registered veterinary practitioner" means a person whose name is for the time being duly registered in a register;
(h) "regulation" means a regulation made under this Act;
(i) "State Veterinary Council" means a Veterinary Council established under section 32-and includes a Joint State Veterinary Council established in accordance with an agreement under section 33-;
(j) "veterinary institution" means any University or other institution within or without India which grants degrees, diplomas or licences in veterinary science and animal husbandry;
(k) "veterinary medicine" means modern scientific veterinary medicine in all its branches and includes veterinary surgery and obstetrics;
(1) "Vice-President" means the Vice-President of the Council.
SECTION 03: ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL
(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette appoint in this behalf, there shall be established a Council to be called the Veterinary Council of India.
(2) The Council 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 shall by the said name sue or be sued.
(3) The Council shall consist of the following members, namely:-
(a) five members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst Directors of Animal Husbandry (by whatever name called) of those States to which this Act extends;
(b) four members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the heads of veterinary institutions in the States to which this Act extends;
(c) one member to be nominated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research;
(d) the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of India, ex officio;
(e) one member to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with animal husbandry,
(f) one member to be nominated by the Indian Veterinary Association;
(g) eleven members to be elected from amongst themselves by persons enrolled in the Indian veterinary practitioners register;
(h) one member to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the Presidents of the State Veterinary Councils of those States
to which this Act extends;
(i) one member to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the Presidents of the State Veterinary Associations of those States to which this Act extends;
(j) Secretary, Veterinary Council of India, ex officio.
(4) The President and Vice-President shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves in such manner as may be provided by regulations.
(5) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall discharge the functions of the President.
(6) The names of persons nominated or elected as members shall be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.
(7) A person shall not be qualified for nomination or election to the Council unless he holds a recognised veterinary qualification.
SECTION 04: MODE OF ELECTION OF MEMBERS
(1) An election under clause (e) of sub-section (3) of section 3-shall be conducted by the Central Government in accordance with such rules as may be made by it in this behalf and any rule so made may provide that pending the preparation of the Indian veterinary practitioners register in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the members referred to in that clause may be nominated by the Central Government instead of being elected as provided therein.
(2) Where any dispute arises regarding any election to the Council, it shall be referred to the Central Government for its decision which shall be final.
SECTION 05: TERM OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, VICE --PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS
(1) The President or Vice-President shall hold office for a term not exceeding three years and not extending beyond the expiry of his term as a member.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, a member, other than an ex officio member, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his election or nomination to the Council or until his successor shall have been duly elected or nominated, whichever is longer.
(3) Members of the Council shall be eligible for re-nomination or re-election.
(4) Where the term of three years is about to expire in respect of any member, a successor may be nominated or elected at any time within three months before the said term expires, but, he shall not assume office until the said term has expired.
SECTION 06: CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
(1) A member shall be deemed to have vacated his office-
(a) if he is absent without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Council, from three consecutive meetings of the Council;
(b) if he ceases to hold the post from which he has been nominated;
(c) in the case of a member elected under clause (g) of sub -section (3) of section 3 -if he ceases to be a person enrolled in the register;
(d) if he has been convicted of an. offence involving moral turpitude and punishable with imprisonment;
(e) if he is an undischarged insolvent;
(f) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court,
(2) On the occurrence of a vacancy referred to in .sub-section (1), the President shall forthwith report the fact of such vacancy to the Central Government and thereafter that Government may subject to the proviso to section 7-, take necessary steps to fill such vacancy.
SECTION 07: CASUAL VACANCIES
A casual vacancy in the Council shall be filled by nomination or election, as the case may be, and the person nominated or elected to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the member whose place he takes was nominated or elected:
Provided that no such casual vacancy occurring within three months of the date of expiry of the normal term of office of a nominated or an elected member need be filled under this section.
SECTION 08: RESIGNATION
(1) The President or Vice-President may at any time resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Council and delivered to the Secretary and the resignation shall take effect from the date on which it is accepted by the Council or on the expiry of ninety days from the date of receipt of the resignation by the Secretary, whichever is earlier.
(2) A member may at any time resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the President and every such resignation shall take effect from the date on which it is accepted by the President or on the expiry of ninety days from the date of receipt of the resignation by the President whichever is earlier,
SECTION 09: MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
(1) The Council shall meet at least twice in a year at such time and place as may be appointed by the Council.
(2) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Council shall be nine.
(3) The President when present shall preside at every meeting of the Council and in his absence the Vice-President and in the absence of both any other member elected by the members present from amongst themselves shall preside at such meeting.
(4) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, all questions which come up before any meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting.
(5) In the case of an equality of votes, the President shall have a casting vote.
(6) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1) to (5) the Council shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to transaction of business at its meetings as may be provided by regulations.
SECTION 10: VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL NOT TO INVALIDATE ACTS, ETC
No act or proceeding of the Council shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of a vacancy in the Council or on account of any defect or irregularity in its constitution.
SECTION 11: APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY AND OTHER OFFICERS OR SERVANTS
(1) The Council may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, appoint a Secretary (who shall also act as Treasurer unless the Council appoints any other person as Treasurer) and may appoint such other officers and employees as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) The terms and conditions of service of the Secretary, other officers and employees appointed by the Council shall be such as may be provided by regulations.
(3) The Secretary, officers and other employees of the Council shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code-.
(4) All orders and decisions and other instruments of the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of the Secretary or any other officer of the Council duly authorised by it in this behalf.
SECTION 12: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
(1) The Council shall appoint from among its members an Executive Committee and may constitute other Committees for such general or specific purposes as the Council considers necessary and may co-opt any person or persons specially qualified to advise on any matter to any Committee other than the Executive Committee.
(2) A Committee constituted under this section shall meet at such time and at such places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be provided by regulations.
SECTION 13: FEES AND ALLOWANCES
The President and other members and the members of the Committees (other than the members of the Council) shall be paid such fees and allowances for attending the meetings of the Council and the Committees as may be provided by regulations.
SECTION 14: INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY THE COUNCIL AND PUBLICATION THEREOF
(1) The Council shall furnish such reports, copies of its minutes, abstract of its ac- counts and other information to the Central
Government as that Government may require.
(2) The Central Government may publish in such manner as it may think fit any report, copy, abstract or other information furnishing to it under this section.
SECTION 15: RECOGNITION OF VETERINARY QUALIFICATIONS GRANTED BY VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA
(1) The veterinary qualifications granted by any veterinary institution in India which are included in the First Schedule shall be recognised veterinary qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Any veterinary institution in India, which grants a veterinary qualification not included in the First Schedule may apply to the Central Government to have such qualification recognised and the Central Government, after consulting the Council, may, by notification in the Official Gazette amend the First Schedule so as.. to include such qualification therein and any such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of the First Schedule against such veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised veterinary qualification only when granted after a specified date,
SECTION 16: RECOGNITION OF VETERINARY QUALIFICATIONS GRANTED BY VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS IN COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THERE IS A SCHEME OF RECIPROCITY
(1) The veterinary qualifications granted by veterinary institutions outside India which are included in the Second Schedule shall be recognised veterinary qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Council may enter into negotiations with the authority in any country outside India which by the law of such country is entrusted with the maintenance of a register of veterinary practitioners, for the setting of a scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of veterinary qualifications and in pursuance of any such scheme the Central Govt. may by notification in the Official Gazette amend the Second Schedule so as to include therein the veterinary qualification which the Council has decided should be recognised, any such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of the Second Schedule against such veterinary qualification declaring that it' shall be a recognised veterinary qualification only; when granted after a specified date.
(3) The Central Government after consultation with the Counsel may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule by directing that an entry be made therein in respect of any veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised veterinary qualification only when granted before a specified date.
(4) Where the Council has refused to recommend any veterinary qualification which has been proposed for recognition by any authority referred to in sub-section (2) and the authority applies to the Central Government in this behalf, the Central Government, after considering such application and after obtaining from the Council a report, if any, as to the reasons for any such refusal may by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule so as to include such qualification therein and the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to such notification.
SECTION 17: SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN CERTAIN CASES FOR RECOGNITIONS OF VETERINARY QUALIFICATIONS GRANTED BY VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS IN COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THERE IS NO SCHEME OF RECIPROCITY
(1) The Central Government, after consultation with the Council may, by notification in the Official Gazette direct that the veterinary qualifications granted by veterinary institutions in any country outside India and respect of which scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of veterinary qualifications is not in force shall be recognised veterinary qualification for the purposes of this Act or shall be so only when granted after a specified date: Provided that veterinary practice by persons possessing such qualifications-
(a) shall be permitted only if such persons are enrolled as veterinary practitioners in accordance with the law regulating the registration of veterinary practitioners for the time being in force in that country;
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