The Meghalaya Forest Authority Act, 1991 Act No. 3 of 1991

MEGHALAYA ACT 3 OF 1991 
THE MEGHALAYA FOREST AUTHORITY ACT, 1991 
            (As passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on the 1st April, 1991) 
Received the assent of the Governor on the 16th April, 1991 
Published in the Gazette of Meghalaya, Extra-ordinary dated 17th April, 1991 
An 
Act 
To provide for the constitution of an Authority for the unified control of forests in the 
State  
WHEREAS, there is need to further adopt measures to prevent indiscriminate felling 
of trees in the State: 
AND, WHEREAS, for that purpose it is expedient to have an authority with persons 
from the State Government and the District Council as members: 
AND, WHEREAS, concurrence of all the Chief Executive Members of the District 
Councils in the State has been obtained: 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya in the Forty-second Year of 
the Republic of India as follows:- 
1. Short title, extend and commencement- 
(1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya Forest Authority Act, 1991. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Meghalaya. 
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 2nd March, 1991. 
2. Definitions- In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context- 
(a) “Authority” means the Meghalaya Forest Authority constituted under section 3; 
(b) “District Council” means an Autonomous District Council constituted under the 
provisions of the Sixth Scheduled to the Constitution of India; and 
(c) “Forest” means all classes of forests but excludes reserved forests, Government or 
Government protected forests and any area recorded as forests in Government 
records. 
3. Constitution of the Authority-  
(1) There shall be constituted the Meghalaya Forest Authority with a Board of 
Governors comprising of the Chief Minister, the Minister- in-charge, Forests and 
Environment and the Chief Executive Members of the Autonomous District 
Councils in the State. 
(2) The Chief Minister shall be the Chairm an, the Minister -in-charge, Forests and 
Environment, the Deputy Chairman and an officer of the State Forests 
Department, not below the rank of a Conservator of the Forests to be nominated 
by the State Government, the Member Secretary of the Board of Governor. 
(3) In the event that there is no council of Ministers in the State of Executive 
Committee in any District Council the Governors as the case may be, of the Board 
shall, for the time being, be appointed by the Governor of Meghalaya. 
4. Functions o f t he A uthority- The functions of the Authority shall be to advise the 
State Government and the District Councils on proper co -ordination and 
implementation of State and District Council forest lows and in the preparation of 
forest plans and schemes and other matters connected with the preservation of forests 
in the State. 
5. Meetings of the Authority and Quorum- 
(1)  The Authority shall meet as often as may be necessary and all matters in a 
meeting shall be decided by the majority members present with the Chairman 
casting his vote only in case of a tie. 
(2) The quorum for any meeting shall be four including the person presiding. 
(3) Every meeting shall be presided over the Chairman and, in his absence, by the 
Deputy Chairman. 
6. Officers and Staff-  
(1) The Member-Secretary shall be the Chief administrative officer of the Authority 
and shall exercise supervision and control over its day to day affairs, authenticated 
letters other papers emanating from it and maintain or cause to be maintained 
accounts and other records.  
(2) The Authority may with prior approval of Government appoint such other officers 
and staff as may be necessary not carrying out its function under this Act.  
7. Power t o m ake rules- The State Government may make rules for carrying out the 
purpose of this Act.  
8. Act not to be in der ogation of any other laws - The provisions of this Act shall not 
be in derogation of any other law on forests operating in the State.   
9. Repeal and Saving-  
(1) The Meghalaya Forest Authority Ordinance, 1991 is hereby repealed. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal any action taken or anything done under the Ordinance 
so repeal shall repealed shall be deemed to have been taken or done under the 
corresponding provisions of this Act.  
 
 
 
 
 

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