The Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Act, 1967

THE PUNJAB CATTLE FAIRS (REGULATION) ACT, 1967 
(Punjab Act No. 6 of 1968) 
 (Received the assent of the Governor of Pu njab on the 19th February, 1968, and first 
published in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extra ordinary), Legislative Supplement, Part I 
of the 24th February, 1968.) 
AN ACT to regulate the holding of cattle fairs. 
 BE it enacted by the Legislat ure of the State of Punjab in the Eighteenth Year of the 
Republic of India as follows:- 
1. This Act may be called the Punjab Cattle  Fairs (Regulation) Act, Short title 1967. 
2. Definitions. 
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-  
(a) 'broker' means a person who strikes a bargai n between a seller and a purchaser of cattle, 
in any cattle fair, on payment of commission; 
(b) 'cattle' includes a buffalo, camel, cow, donkey, elepha nt, goat, horse, mule, sheep and 
their young-ones and such other animals as the State Gove rnment may be notification 
specify;  
(c) 'Deputy Commissioner' includes an Additional Deputy Commissioner and such other 
officer as the State Government may by notification appoint for the purpose of 
exercising the powers and performing the functions of a Deputy Commissioner under 
this Act; 
(d) 'fair area' means such area w ithin a district as may be speci fied by a fair officer for the 
purpose of holding a cattle fair; 
(e) 'fair officer' in relation to any fair area means an officer appoint ed under section 4 for 
such area; 
(f) 'prescribed' means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 
3. (1) The right to hold a cattle fair at any pl ace in the State of Punjab Bar on hold and to 
control, manage and regulate such fair shall vest exclusively in the State ing, etc, of 
Government and shall be exercisable by it, in accordance with th e provision of cattle 
fairs this Act and the rules made thereunder, through such person r authorites except by 
or under authority of State Government as it may deem fit. 
 (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 
in force and save as provided by sub- section (1), it shall be unlawful for 
any person or local authority to hold, co ntrol, manage or regulate a cattle 
fair at any place in the State of Punjab. 
Fair Officers and 
their duties, etc. 
4. (1) There shall be appo inted by the State Govern ment or by the Deputy 
Commissioner,  if so authorised by it, one or more fair  officers for the 
purpose of holding, contro lling, managing and regul ating cattle fairs in a 
district. 
 (2) Subject to the direction, c ontrol and supervision of the State 
Government or of the Deputy Commissioner, if so authorised by it, a 
fair officer shall be responsible fo r making arrangements in respect of 
all matters connected w ith the holding of cattle  fair and its proper 
control, management and regulation and shall also have the powers of- 
 (i) defining the fair area; 
(ii) reservation of sites or places for latring, urinals, bath, shops, 
exhibitions, shows, demonstrations , foot-paths for animals, water-
supply for drinking purposes, shelters, green and dry fodder, 
entertainments and similar other purposes necessary in connection with 
the cattle fair; 
(iii) allotment of sites temporarily for commercial or other purposes in 
connection with the cattle fair, authorisation of raising f structures on 
such sites, and fixation of rents for such sites in the prescribed manner; 
(iv) arrangements of watch and ward, lig hting, medical first-aid, veterinary 
aid, sanitation , tentage and other facilities as may be necessary in 
connection with the cattle fair; 
(v) construction of temporary offices for the purpose of collecting taxes and 
fees imposed and levied in connection with the cattle fair. 
Power o State 
Government to 
impose taxes in fair 
areas.
 
5. The State Government may, in such manner and at such rates as may be 
prescribed, impose in a fair area during the continuance of a cattle fair- 
(a) tolls on vehicles entering such area for business purposes; and  
(b) octroi duty on goods brought for sale within such area: 
Provided that no such duty shall be im posed if the goods have already been 
subjected to the levy of such duty at  the time of their entry into the 
limits of the local authority in which the fair area is situate.  
Exclusion of 
jurisdiction of local 
authorities to 
impose tax, etc.  
6. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 
in force, no local authority shall be competent to impose any tax or fee 
in any fair area in connection with a cattle fair during the continuance 
of the fair. 
Duty of local 
authorities to assist 
fair officers. 
7. Every local authority, within whose jurisdictional limits a fair area or a 
part thereof is situated, shall render to the fair officer, for the purposes 
of holding, controlling, managing or regulating a cattle fair in such 
area, such assistance as may be required of it by the fair officer in 
connection with the cattle fair. 
8. (1) No person shall cattle at a cattle fair unless he has obtained a registration 
certificate in respect of such cattle in such manner, on payment of such fee 
and from such authority, as may be prescribed. 
(2) Every person purchasing cattle at a cattle fair shall obtain in respect of such 
cattle a sale certificate in such manne r, on payment of such fee and from 
such authority, as may be prescribed.  
Levy of fees 
9. (1) No person shall act as a broker in  any fair area unless he is granted in 
respect of such area a licence on such terms and conditions as may be 
specified therein. 
Licensing of 
brokers. 
(2) A licence referred to in sub-section (1) shall be in such from, and shall be 
issued in such manner, on payment of  such fee and by such authority, as 
may be prescribed. 
 
(3) No broker shall be entitled to claim from the seller or the purchaser or both 
a commission in respect of the sale or pur chase of cattle at a cattle fair at a 
rate exceeding in the aggregate one pe rcentum of the price of the cattle 
sold.  
 
(4) If the fair officer is satisfied that the holder of a broker's licence has 
violated any of the terms and conditions  of the licence or has contravened 
any of the provisions of this Act or the rules ma de thereunder, the may, 
after giving to the broder a reasonable opportunity of being heard, suspend 
or cancel his licence. 
 
(5) An order suspending or canceling a broker's licence shall be revisable by 
the Deputy Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed. 
 
 (1) No person shall- 
(a) bring within a fair area any cattle  suffering from a ny contagious or 
infectious disease; or 
(b) obstruct the sale or purchase of cattle or unduly inte rfere therewith or 
misguide brokers, sellers or purchasers within the fair area or cause loss to 
the income of the cattle fair by unfair means. 
10. Power to 
prohibit entry of 
certain persons 
and cattle in fair 
area. 
(2) The fair officer shall have power- 
9 (a) to prohibit the entry in the fair area  of any cattle referred to in clause (a) 
of sub-section (1) or cause to be driven out of such area such cattle; 
(b) to get the cattle in the fair area immunised, if necessary; 
(c) to isolate any diseased cattle; 
(b) to arrange for the disposal of dead cattle in fair area; and  
(e) in addition to any other penalty to which such person may be liable under 
this Act to expel from the fair area an y person contravening the provisions 
of clause (d) of sub-section (1). 
 
(3) For the purposes of co mplying with the provisions of sub-section (2) the 
fair officer may use such force as may be necessary. 
 
Outbreak of fire. 11. In the event of an outbreak of fire, the fair office may order 
the demolition of any structure, if in his opinion its 
demolition is necessary or ceeding shall lie for an act done 
or purporting to be done in good faith under this section  
 
wer to remove 
unauthorised 
construction. 
12. The fair officer may, in a fair area, remove any 
unauthorised construction and the cost of such removal 
 
may be recovered from the person making the 
construction, as arrears of la nd revenue, if such persons 
fails to make payment of such cost on a written demand by 
the fair officer.  
ctment of 
allottees. 
13. (1) The fair officer may, in  a fair area order the ejectment 
of any person from the site allo tted to him, if such person 
contravenes any of the provisi ons of this Act or the rules 
made thereunder. 
(2) If any person fails without reasonable cause to comply with 
an order made under sub-sec tion (1), the fair officer may 
take possession of the site any may for that purpose use 
such force as may be necessary. 
 
kSummary 
proceedings 
against persons. 
14. (1) If the fair officer shall at any time have reason to 
believe that any person, fro m whom any sum recoverable 
is due under the provisions of th is Act, is about to remove 
himself from the fair area, the fair officer may cause a bill 
for the sum due to be pres ented to such person and 
demand immediate payment thereof. 
(2) If, on presentation of such bill, the said person does not 
forthwith pay the sum due, the amount shall be recovered 
by distress and sale in the pres cribed manner of cattle or 
other moveable property in the possession of such person. 
(3) Where any sum du e from any person cannot be recovered 
under sub section (2) or has been recovered  only partially, 
such sum or the balance ther eof, as the case may be, may 
be recovered as arrears of land revenue if such person fails 
to make payment thereof on a written demand by the fair 
officer. 
 
posit of intitial 
expenses. 
15. (1) The State Government may or the Deputy 
Commissioner, if so authorised  by it, shall direct the 
Panchayat Samiti or  Municipal Committee, as the case 
 
may be, in whose jurisdiction th e fair is to be held to 
deposit in te Cattle Fair un d the prescribed amount, not 
exceeding one thousand rupees, to cover the initial 
expenses of the fair and the local authority to whom the 
direction is given shall comply with the same.  
 (2)   In the even t of the Panchayat Samiti or Municipal 
Committee failing to comply w ith the directions issued 
under sub-section (1) the State Government shall have the 
power to declare the prescribed  amount as a fit and proper 
charge on the Samiti Fund or Municipal Fund, as the case 
may be. 
 
Cattle Fair 
Fund. 
16. (1) Thre shall be constitute d a Fund to be called "The 
Cattle Fair Fund" to which sha ll be credited the following, 
namely:- 
(a) all fees, rents or other sums of money (not being tolls and 
taxes) received or realized under the provisions of this Act 
or the rules made thereunder ;and  
(2) The Cattle Fair Fund shall be kept in such Government 
treasury or sub-treasury as ma y be specified by the State 
Government.  
 
. The Cattle Fair Fund shall be operated in such manner and to such extent by 
such authority as the State Government or the Deputy Commissioner  if so 
authorised by it, may, by order in writing direct and shall be applicable for 
the purposes of payment, in whole or in part, of all charges and expenses 
incidental to the matte rs specified in this Act and the rules made 
thereunder, including the following purposes, namely:- 
17Application 
 (a) all expenses necessary for the holding, controlling, 
managing or regulation of cattle fairs and for matters 
connected therewith or incidental thereto; 
(b) payment of salaries and allowances of persons employed in 
connection with the cattle fair; 
 
(c) payment of fees for the auditing of accounts of the Funds 
by such auditors and at such rate as the State Government 
may determine; 
(d) reimbursement to any local authority of any expenditure 
incurred or of advances made by it forr the purpose of 
holding a cattle fair; 
(e) allocation to local authorities in such proportion as the State 
Government may consider fit, for the development of 
cattle or animal hus bandry or such  other purposes as the 
State Government may think fit; or 
(f) such other purposes as th e State Government may, be 
written order, direct.  
  
 (a) for the first offence, be punishable with imprisonment 
which may extend to six months  or with fine which may 
extend to two thousand rupees or with both; and 
(b) for a second or subsequent offence be punishable with 
imprisonment which may extend  to three years or with 
fine which may extend to five  thousand rupees or with 
both: 
Provided that in the case of seco nd or subsequent offence, in 
the absence of special and adequate reasons to be 
mentioned in the judgment  of the court, such 
imprisonment shall not be less than one year and such fine 
shall not be less than two thousand rupees.  
18. (1) Any 
person who 
contravenes 
the provisions 
of sub-section 
(2) of section 
3 shall-
 
(2) Any person who contravenes the provision of section 8 or sub-section (1) or 
sub-section (3) of section 9 or sub-section (1) of se ction 10 or of the rules 
made under this Act, shall be puni shable with imprisonment which may 
extend to one month or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees 
or with both. 
19. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
 
1898, an offence ; punishable under sub-section (i) of section 18 shall be 
cognizable  
 (2)  No court shall take cogni zance of an offence punishable 
under sub-section (2) of secti on 18 except on a complaint 
made in writing by the fair o fficer of any other officer not 
below the rank of a Gazetted officer authorised by the 
Deputy Commissioner in this behalf.  
 
 (3) An offence punishable under sub-section (2) of section 18 
may be tried in a summary manner.  
 
Composition 20. The fair officer may accept  from any person charged with 
an offence punishable under sub-section (2) of section 18 
by way of composition of the offence a sum of money not 
exceeding five hundred rupees and on such payment such 
person, if in custody, shall be set at liberty and the 
composition shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and 
in no case shall any further proceeding be taken against 
such person in respect of the same offence. 
 
Power to make 
regulations. 
21. The fair officer may, subject  to the rules made under this 
Act and with the approval of the State Government, make 
regulations to provide generally against the outbreak or 
spread of fire and particular ly for the following purposes, 
namely :- 
 
 (i)  safety of buildings and structures put up in the fair area;  
 (ii)  laying down conditions on which huts and other structures 
may be constructed, including limits to the heights of such 
huts or structures and the areas on which they are to be 
built an distances between them; 
 
 (iii) providing for the supply of water;  
 (iv)  restricting the use of fi re for cooking or for any other 
purpose and taking precautions against spread of fire. 
 
Power to make 22.  (1) The State Government may be notification make rules  
rules. for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 (2)  In particular, and without pr ejudice to the generality of the 
foregoing power, such  rules may provide for all or any of 
the following matters namely :- 
 
 (a)  the manner in which sites sh all be allotted temporarily for 
commercial or other purposes in connection with the cattle 
fair and the rents thereof shall be fixed under clause (iii) of 
sub-section 92) of section 4;  
 
 (b)  the manner in which and the rate at which tolls and taxes 
shall be imposed, assessed and collected; 
 
 (c)  the manner in which, the fe e on payment of which and the 
authority by which registrati on certificates and sale 
certificates shall be issued under section 8; 
 
 (d)  the form and manner in which, the payment of fee on 
which and the authority by wh ich licenses referred to in 
sub-section (2) of section 9 shall be issued; 
 
 (e)  the manner in which and the fee on payment of which the 
Deputy Commissioner shall revise an order of suspension 
or cancellation of a broker's license under sub-section 95) 
of section 9; 
 
 (f) he manner in which distress and sale of animals or movable 
property shall be made under sub-section (2)  of section 9; 
 
 (g) the amount for the deposit of which direction may be given 
under section 15; 
 
 (h) the manner in wh ich the Cattle Fair Fund shall be 
constituted and matters connected with the proper 
administration  of such Fund; 
 
 (i) sanitation and control of diseases in a fair area ; and  
 (j)  any other purpose for which rules are required to be or may 
be made.   
 
(3)  Every rules made under this action shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before 
each.  House of the State Legislature while it is in  session for a total period of ten days which 
may be comprised in one session or in two succe ssive sessions; and if before the expiry of the 
session in which lit is so laid or the session immediately fo llowing, both Houses agree in 
making any modification in the rule  of both Houses agree that th e rule should not be made, the 
rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modi fied 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. 
23.  The provisions of this Act shall have effect, notwithst anding any thing inconsistent 
therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
 
24.  (1)  The Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Ordinance, 1967 (Pun jab  Ordina nce No14 of 
1967), is hereby repealed.  
(2)  Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done  or any action taken under the said Ordinance 
shall  be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act as if this act had come into force on 
the 4th day of November, 1967 
 

‹ Prev All Punjab acts Next ›