The ASSAM CATTLE DISEASES ACT, 1948

Preamble. 
ASSAM ACT XXVI OF 1948 
THE ASSAM CATTLE DISEASES ACT, 1948 
(Passed by the Assembly) 
[Received the assent of the Governor on the 29th November, 
1948] 
[Published in the Assam Gazette of the 8th December 1948) 
An 
Act to provide for the prevention qf the spread of contagiour disease.! 
among cattle in the Province of Assam. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to tak e measures to prevent the spread of 
contagious diseases among cattle in the Province of Assam ; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:-
Short title, l. (l) This Act may be called the Assam Cattle Diseases Act, 
extent and 1948. 
com me net"· 
ment. 
Deftni lions. 
(2} This Act, except sections 3 to 8, extends to the whole of 
the ·Province of Assam and shall come into force at once. Sections 3 
to 8 shall extend to such areas and come into force on such dates as the 
Provincial Government may, by notification, dire ct. 
2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject 
or context,-:--
(i) ''Cattle" means cows, bulls, bullocks, buffalo es, sheep and 
goats and the young ones of these species of both sexes 
and such other domesticated animals as may be pres­
cribed ; 
(ii) "Contagious disease" means a disease specified in the 
Schedule to this Act and any other diseas e which the 
Provincial Government may, by notific a tion in the official 
Gazette, declare to be a contagious disease ; 
(iii) ''infected area" means ao area in respect of which a noti­
fication under section 10 is in force ; 
(iv) "infective" used with refere nce to an animal means affected 
by a contagious disease or having recently been in con· 
tact with or proximity to an animal so affected ; 
(v) "Inoculation" means inoculation with any protective serum 
or vaccine or with both ; 
(vi) "Owner" in relation to any animal includes a person 
having charge of such animal ; 
(vii) ''Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this 
Act; 
(viii) "Veterinary Offic er" means any officc:-r · of -the Civil 
Vetet inary D epar tment not below the rank of Veterinary 
A.ssiitant Surgeon. 
Price 2 as. or 2 d. 
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Seasons and 3. (l) When sections 3 to 8 have been extended to any area, 
~outes . for the Provincial Government may, by notification, appoint · the 
Importation d · h' h d h of cattle. season pr seasons unng Vj IC an t e route or routes 
by which cattle may be imported into such area, and .no 
Quarantine 
stations. 
Vaccination 
and mark· 
ing of cat· 
tie. 
person s]lall import cattle into such area otherwise than during 
the season and by the route so appointed. 
(2) The Provincial Government may establish quarantin e stations 
for the inspection and detention of such cattle along the routes 
appointed under sub-section (l). 
4. ( 1) All cattle on arrival at a quarantine station shall-
(a) be vaccinated against such contagious disease, as may 
be notified in this behalf unless the Veterinary Officer 
of the station is satisfied that they have been vaccinated 
against such disease within 18 .months immediately 
preceding their arrival or within such longer period so 
preceding as may be prescribed ; and 
(b) be marked in the prescribed manner. 
l'eriod of (2) The period of detention of cattle at a quarantine station for 
detention of the purpose of inspection and vaccination shall be s11ch as may be 
eattle . at prescribed. quarantme 
station. 
Assistance to (3) Every person in charge of cattle shall give reasonable 
Veterfnary assistance to the Veterinary Officer of the station and his subordinates 
~fficer. for for the inspection, vaccination and marking of such cattle. mspectlon, 
etc., of 
cattle. . 
Feeding and 5. {l) All cattle detained in a quarantine station shall remain 
upkeep of under the care of the person in charge who)hall be responsible for 
detained their feeding and upkeep. cattle. 
{2) The Provincial Government shall make appropriate arrange­
ments for the supply of cattle-food, grazing and water and may 
recover the charges incurred by the levy of fees as may be prescribed. 
Precautions (3) Every person in charge of cattle shall, during the period of 
a,aimt their detention, take reasonable precautions against their straying 
straying of from the limits of the quarantine station or from the place allotted 
cattle. for their halt. 
Liability t.o 6. (1) The person in charge of cattle shall r,ay all du~ in 
pay vaccina- respect of detention of such cattle in a quarantine station including 
tion . and such fee as may be prescribed for vaccination and marking. 
f~e~:kmg (2) If such dues are not paid, the Veterinary Officer of the station 
may seize as many cattle as will, in his opinion, suffice to defray the 
dues leviable under sub-section (1) and such inci~ental charges in 
connection with the seizure and sale and forthwith report the fact to 
the Deputy Commissioner or such other officer as may have been 
appointed by the Deputy Commissioner in this behalf. 
(3) The D.eputy Commissioner or other officer so appointed may, 
if satisfied that such dues have not been paid, issue such notice or 
Permit 
release 
cattle. 
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proclamation as may be prescribed and cause the cattle so seized, or 
as many as will, in his opinion, suffice to defray the dues and inciden­
tal charges, to be sold by auction and the proceeds of the sale applied 
to the payment of-
(a) the amount due under sub-section (1), 
the charges in connection with the seizure, custody, feeding 
and upkeep of the cattle and the proceedings of the 
sale. 
( 4) The balance of the purchase money, if any, shall be delivered 
to the person who was in charge of the cattle when they were seized 
or their owner, together with an account showing-
( a) the number of cattle seized and sold, 
(b) the time during which they had been in custody, 
(.:) the proceeds of sale, and 
(d) the manner in which those proceeds have been disposed 
of. 
f 7. The Veterinary Officer of a quarantine station shall, at the 0
0 f time of release of cattle from the station, grant, in such form as 
may be prescribed, a permit to the person in their charge, and such 
person shall, while in charge of the cattle, produce it whenever so 
required by such officers as may be prescribed. If such person fails to 
produce a permit, the officers aforesaid shall give him reasonable 
facility to produce the same within a g~ven time. 
Prohibition 8 .. No person importing cattle into ar.y area during a season and 
to ~au be• by route appointed for such area under section 3 shall pass beyond a 
~=~tiBe q~:: quarantine station unless he holds a permit under section 7 in 
tion. respect of the cattle in his charge. 
Report of 
contagious 
disease. 
9. Every owner or person in charge or having control of an 
animal, and every Veterinary practitioner attending any animal in 
the course of his veterinary practice or otherwise, who has reason 
to believe that such animal is infective shall forthwith report and 
any other person who has reason to believe that an animal 
is infective may report the fact to the Veterinary Officer 
within the area of which such animal is for the time being 
kept. 
Power to 10. The Provincial Government or such officer as it may autho­
notify infec- rise in this behalf may, in the manner prescribed, declare any local area 
ted areas. in which any cattle is affected by or exposed to any contagious 
disease specified in such notification to be an infet>ted area. 
Prohibition 11. (1) Save in accordance with the conditions of a license granted 
of mov~ment by a Veterinary Officer-of ammals, 
etc., into or (a) no person shall remove any animal, alive or dead, 
out of infec- or any product of any animal (including its excreta) 01 
ted areas, any part of any animal or any fodder, bedding, harness or other 
things used in connection with an animal, and 
(b) no person owning or having charge c;>f control of 
any animal shall allow such animal to proceed, from any place 
within an infected area to any place outside such · area or from 
any place outside an infected area to any place within 
such area. 
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(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall prevent the carriage by 
railway or by any mechanically propelled vessel of a type approved 
by the . Provincial Government of any animal or thing referred to 
in that sub-section through an infected area: 
Provided that if such animal or thing at any stage during its 
carriage by railway or such vessel through an infected area is unload­
ed ~ therein it shall not be removed therefrom save in accordance 
with fhe provisions of sub-section (I). 
Prohibition I2. No person shall organise, · promote or hold in any infected 
fof1.rmarketts, area any animal market, animal fair, animal exhibition or other 
a s, e c., . f . I h r d in infected concentratiOn o amma s whet er wr the purpose of sport or tra e, 
areas. without the permission in writing of the Provincial Government or such 
officer as the Provincial Government may authorise in this behalf. 
Inoculation 13. (I) On the issue of a notification under section 10 a Veterinary ofanimals. Offi · d h r cer appomte for t e in1ected area may inoculate every healthy 
animal of the species affected by or exposed to the contagious disease 
specified in such notification 
(2) For the purpose of inoculating any such animal the Veteri~ 
nary Officer may, by notice in writing, call upon the owner of the 
animal to produce it for inoculation at the time and place specified in 
such notice and such owner shall give that officer reasonable 
facility and assistance in carrying out the Inoculation. 
Cornpul~ory 14. If a Veterinary C>fficer, ·after due examination of an animal 
segdregatwnt and such enquiry as may be neces~ary, is of opinion that such animal an trea -. . r . h I d . . . d' h f h ment of ani-Is lll1ective, e may )y or er m wntmg, 1rect t e owner o sue 
mal~ in in-animal- · 
fected areas. 
Compulsory 
inoculation 
of animals. 
(a) to keep it where it is for the time being, or remove it, or 
allow it to be removed to such place of isolation or segregat;on as may 
be specified in the order ; · 
(b) to subject it to such treatment as may be specified in the 
order ; and such owner shall comply with such order. 
15. (I) The Provincial Government may, in the manner pres­
cribed, notify any local area as a compulsory inoculation area in 
respect of Rinderpe~t or any other contagious disease specified in the 
Schedule. 
(2) A Veterinary Officer may inocuiate any animal of the species 
specified in a notification under sub-section ( l). 
(3) For the purpose of inoculation of any such 
nary Officer may ,-by notice in writing, call upon 
animal to produce it for inoculation at the time and 
such notice and such owner shall give that officer 
and assistanc:e ir. carrying out the inoculation. 
animal, a Veteri­
the owner of the' 
place specified in 
reasonable facility 
Marking of 16. For the purpose of identification, the Veterinary Officer 
animals. may mark the inoculated animal by branding or tattooing with letters 
or numerals, or with both. -
17. When inoculation has been carried out - under sections Certificate of inocula- ' 13 14 or I5 the Veterinary Officer shall, if requested by the 
tion. oV:ner of the inoculated animal,· issue a certificate in the · prescribed 
form showing that the animal has been inoculated against the disease 
shown in ~ uch certificate. 
L_ ____________ _________________________________ _____________________ _ 
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No fee to be IS. Except as provided in sub-section (I) of section 6 no fee 
~harg1edt. for shall be recoverable. for inoculation carried out in accordance with the 
1nocu a wn. . . f h' A previsions o t Is ct. 
Non-com- I9. If the owner of an animal in respect of which a notice has 
plia~ce with been issued under sub-section (2) of section I3, section I4 or sub-
91e4ctwns15 13, section (3) of section I5 fails to observe a direction issued by the 
or to V · Offi · d · h h · · f h 'd be reported etennary cer m accor ance wit t e provisions o t e sa1 
to Police. sections, the Veterinary Officer concerned shall report the 
default to the nearest Police Station and the Officer-in-charge of 
such Police Station or such other Police Officer as may be deputed by 
him in this behalf shall thereupon seize the animal and detain it for 
production before the Veteri~ary Officer reporting the default. 
Recovery of 20. The expenses of detention and production before the Veteri­
expens.es of nary Officer incurred under section I9 shall be recoverable at such 
detentwn. rates as may be prescribed from the owner of the animal. If he fails 
to pay the amount due, it may, without prejudice to any other mode 
of recovery, be recovered by sale, by public auction, of such number of 
the owner's animals as may be sufficient to realise such amount. 
Man~er of 21. (I) On the issue of a notification under section IO, the owner 
thfe disposal of any animal, which has died or is believed to have died of any 
o carcasses . d' h ll b 'h . l l . f b l h of infective contagwus 1sease, s a ury sue amma at east SIX eet e ow t e 
·animals. surface of the ground or deal with it in such manner as may be prescribed. 
·Penalty. 
(2) A Veterinary Officer may, when he has reasor~ to believe that any 
animal had died of any contagious disease, issue a notice to the owner 
to bury such animal in the manner provided under sub-section ( 1). 
(3) No person shall disinter or otherwise remove the carcass of any 
animal buried in compliance with the provisions of sub-section 
(I) or (2). 
22. Whoever contravenes any of the provlSlons of this Act, or 
of any rule or order made thereunder shall, on conviction, be punishable 
with fine not exceeding fifty rupee~, or in default with simple impri­
sonment for a term not exceeding one month. 
Bar of legal 23. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
proceedings. any person for anything in good faith done or intended to be done in 
pursuance of this Act. 
Rules, 24. (1) The Provincial Government may make rules for carrying 
out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the 
foregoing provisions, the Provincial Government may make rules-
(a) prescribing the manner in which an area may be declared 
to be an infected area or a compulsory inoculation area ; 
(b) prescribing the form of notice issued under sub-section 
(2) of section 13, section I4 and sub-section (3)of sec­
tion I5; 
~c) prescribing the form of cert ificate granted under section 16; 
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(d) providing for the custody of animals detained under this Act 
and for their feeding and watering while under detention 
and prescribing the charges to be levied for feeding and 
watering such animals and for their production by the 
Police before the Veterinary Ofi'ker ; 
(e) regulating the sale of animals liable to be sold under section 
20; 
(f) providing for the disinfection of buildings where infective 
animals are kept in infected areas ; 
(g) prescribing the manner of disposal of carcasses of infective 
animals under section 21 ; 
(h) prescribing the fee for vaccination and marking under 
section 6. 
~ (3) All rules made under this Act shall be laid before the Assam 
Legislative Assembly, as soon as possible after they are made, and shall 
be subject to such modifications or amendments as may be made by 
the said Assembly. 
SCHEDU LE 
(See section 2) 
tl) Anthrax. 
(2) Black Quarter. 
(3) Bovine Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia . 
(4) Contagious Abortion. 
(5) Haemorrhagic Septicaemia . 
(6) Rinderpest. 
(7) Rabies. 
A.G.P, (Leg,) No.30f48 -775+25-19-8-19 49. 

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