LexThe Rajasthan Tendu Leaves (Regulation of Trade) Act, 1974
Rajasthan · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actHkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 1
LAW DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
Jaipur, April 11, 1974
No. F.2(2) Vidhi/74 -- In pursuance of clause (3) of Article 248 of the Constitution of
India, the Governor is pleased to authorize the publication in the Rajasthan Gazette of the
following translation in the English language of the Rajasthan Tandu Patta (Vyapar ka
Viniyaman) Adhiniyam 1974 (Adhiniyam Sankhya 5 San 1974) :-
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
THE RAJASTHAN TENDU LEAVES (REGULATION OF TRADE) ACT, 1974
(Act No. 5 of 1974)
[Received the assent of the Governor on the 11th day of April, 1974]
An
Act
to make provision for regulating in the public interest the trade of Tendu Leaves by creation of
State monopoly in such trade.
Be it enacted by the Rajasthan State Legislature in the Twenty -fifth Year of the Republic of
India as follows:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement. –(1) This Act may be called the Rajasthan Tendu Leaves
(Regulation of Trade) Act. 1974.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Rajasthan.
(3) It shall come into force in such area or areas and on such date or dates as the State
Government may, be notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
2. Definitions :- in this Act unless the context otherwise requires :-
(a) “agent” means an agent appointed under section 4;
(b) “Committee” means an Advisory Committee constituted for one or more forest divisions under
sub-section (1) of section 6;
(c) “Grower of tendu leaves” means, - (i) in respect of tendu plants grown in areas as may, from
time to time, be constituted as reserved or protected forests under the Rajasthan Forest Act,
1953 (Rajasthan Act XIII of 1953), the State Government:
(ii) in respect of tendu plants grown in Panchayat areas as defined in clause (7) of section 2 and
clause (i) of Sub-section (1) of section 88 of the Rajasthan Panchayat Act, 1953 (Rajasthan
Act XXI of 1953). State Government; and
(iii) in respect of tendu plants grown in areas not covered by sub-cluse (i) and (ii) :-
(A) the State Government, where the tendu plant is grown on unoccupied land as defined in
clause (27) of section 5 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 or on pasture land as defined
in clause (28) of section 5 of the said Act;
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 2
(B) the land holder or the tenant, as the case may be, in a unit on which the tendu plants grow
and includes every person who, from time to time, clams title to s uch tendu plants
through him;
(C) the Bhoodan holder under the Rajasthan Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1954 (Rajasthan Act XVI
of 1954) and Gramdan Kisan under the Rajasthan Gramdan Act. 1971 (Rajasthan Act XII
of 1971). as the case may be, in a unit on which the tendu plants grow and includes every
person who, from time to time, claims title to such tendu plants through him;
(d) “licensed vendor” in relation to tendu leaves means a person to whom licence is granted
under section 13 for retail sale of such leaves;
(e) “retail sale” means a sale of tendu leaves not exceeding such quantity as the State
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette. s pecify in respect of such
leaves;
(f) “specified area ” means the area specified in the notification under sub -section (3) of
section 1;
(g) “tenant” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to this expression by clause (43) of
section 5 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955;
(h) “unit” means a sub-division of a specified area constituted into a unit under section 3;
(i) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Rajasthan
Forest Act. 1953 (Rajasthan Act. XIII of 1953) shall have the same meaning
respectively for the purpose of this Act, as assigned to them in that Act;
3. Constitution of units – The State Government may divide every specified area into such number
of units as it may deem fit.
4. Appointment of agents – (1) The State Government may, for the pur pose of purchase of, and
trade in, tendu leaves on its behalf, appoint one or more agents in respect of different units and any
such agent may be appointed in respect of more than one unit.
(2) The terms, conditions and the procedure for appointment of agents shall be such as may be
prescribed.
5. Restriction on purchase or transport of tendu leaves - (1) On this issue of a notification under
sub-section (3) of section 1 in any area, no person other than;
(a) The State Government;
(b) an officer of the State Government authorised in writing in that behalf; or
(c) an agent in respect of the unit in which the tendu leaves have grown; shall purchase by or
transport; tendu leaves.
Explanation I – Purchase shall include purchase by barter;
Explanation II – Purchase of tendu leaves from the State Government or the aforesaid
Government officer or agent or a licensed vendor shall not be deemed to be a
purchase in contravention of the provisions of this Act;
Explanation III– A person having no interest in the holding who was acquired a right to collect
tendu leaves grown on such holding shall be deemed to have purchased such
leaves in contravention of the provision of this Act;
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 3
(2) Not withstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) :-
(a) a grower of tendu leaves may transport his leaves from any place within the unit wherein
such leaves have grown to any other place in that unit; and
(b) tendu leaves purchased from the State Government or any officer of agent specified in the
said sun-section by any person for manufacture of bidis within the State or by any person
for sale outside the State or by the licensed vendor may be transported by such person or
such vendor outside the unit in accordance with the terms and condition of a permit to be
issued in that behalf by such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) Any person desiring to sell tendu leaves may sell them to the aforesaid Government Officer
or agent at any depot situated within the said unit;
Provided that the State Government, the Government Officer or agent shall not be
bound to re-purchase tendu leaves once sold to it.
6. Constitution of Advisory Committee – (1) the State Government shall, for each year
commencing on the 1st day of July and ending on the 30 th day of June next following constitute an
Advisory Committee for one or more forest divisions in the state consisting of not more than five
members as may be notified by the State Government from time to time for the purpose of
advising the State Government in the matter of fixation, from time to time, of a fair and reasonable
price of tendu leaves at which tendu leaves may be purchased by the State Government or its
authorised officer or agent as are offered for sale in such division or divisions in accordance with
the provisions of this Act;
Provided that one of the members shall be from amongst the traders of tendu leaves or
manufacturers of bidis and one member shall be from amongst the member of the Vidhan Sabha
representing the area.
(2) It shall also be the duty of the Committee to advise the State Government on such other matters
as may be referred to it by the State Government.
(3) The business of the Committee shall be conducted in such manner as may be prescribed
(4) The member of the Committee shall be entitled to such allowances as may be prescribed.
(5) The committee shall tender its advice to the State Government within such period as the State
Government may, for each Committee, specify in this behalf.
7. State Government to fix price in consul tation with committee. The State Government shall,
after consultation with the Committee constituted under section 6, fix the price at which tendu
leaves shall be purchased by i t or any of its authori sed officer or agent from growers of tendu
leaves during the year for which the committee in constituted under sub -section (1) of section 6
and shall publish the same in the Official Gazette and in such other manner as may be prescribed
and the price so fixed shall not be altered during the year to which the price relates;
Provided that, if the committee falls to tender advice within the period specified under sub -
section (5) of section 6 or such further period not exceeding fifteen days as the State Government
may allow, the State Government may proceed to fix the price without consultation with the
committee;
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 4
Provided further that different prices may be fixed foe different units, and in so doing
regard shall be had amongst other things to :-
(a) Prices of tendu leaves obtained or fixed under this Act or any other enactment during the
preceding three years in respect of the area comprised in the unit;
(b) The quality of the tendu leaves grown in the unit;
(c) Transport facilities available in the unit;
(d) The cost of transport; and
(e) The general level of wages for unskilled labour prevalent in the unit.
8. Opening of depots and publication of price lists, etc, at the depot .-There shall be set up in each
unit such number of depots, and at such places, as the State Government may , taking into
consideration the convenience of the growers of tendu leaves, direct and a price list of tendu leave
fixed by the State Government under section 7 and the hours of business shall be prominently
displayed on a notice board kept for the purpose at every such depot.
9. State G overnment or agent to purchase t endu leaves – (1) The State Government or their
authorized officer or agent shall be bound to purchase at the price fixed section 7, tendu leaves
offered for sale at the depot during the hours of business;
Provided that it shall be open to the State Government or the authorized officer or the agent
to refuse to purchase any leaves which in their opinion are not fit for the purpose of manufacture of
bidis. Such refusal shall be communicated in writing duly signed dated and sealed be that
authority.
(2) Any person aggrieved by refusal to purchase his leaves be an authorized officer or agent under
the proviso to sub -section (1) may, within fifteen days there from, refer the matter to the
Divisional Forest Officer, or such other officer, who may by empowered by the State
Government in this behalf, having jurisdiction over the unit in which the leaves have grown.
(3) On receipt of a complaint under sub -section (2 ) the Divisional Forest Officer or such other
officer, as the case may be, shall hold an enquiry on the spot or at the headquarters in the
prescribed manner and after hearing the parties con cerned or their authorized agent shall pass
such orders as he may deem fit and in case he finds the refusal to purchase the leaves to be
improper. He may,
(a) if he considers the leaves in question still suitable for the manufacture of bidis, direct the
authorized officer or agent as the case may be, to purchase the same and may also award to
the person aggrieved, such further compensation not exceeding twenty per cent of the price
of the leaves payable to him, as he may deem fit;
(b) if he considers that the leaves in question have since then become unsuitable for the
manufacture of bidis , direct the payment to the person aggrieved, of any amount not less
than the price of such leaves payable to him under sun -section (1) and such further
compensation not exceeding twenty per cent of such price as he may deem fit, by way of
damages for the loss, suffered by such person.
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 5
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to debar the appropriation of leaves offered for
sale, if the State Government or its authorised officer or the agent has reason to believe that the
leaves appertain to forests or lands belonging to the State Government and paying only such
collection charges, if any, as the State Government may from time to time determiner.
Provided that in the case of any dispute, the Divisional Forest Officer or such other officer
who may be specifically empowered in this behalf as specified in sub -section (2), shall hear and
dispose of the same in the manner provided therein.
10. Registration – Every grower of tendu leaves other than the State Government , shall, if the
quantity of leaves grown by him during a year is likely to exceed such quantity as may be
prescribed get himself registered in the prescribed manner.
11. Registration of manufacturer of bidis and exporters of tendu leaves. - (1) Every manufacture r
of bidis and every exporter of tendu leaves shall get himself registered within such period, on
payment of such fee and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) Every manufacturer of bidis and every exporter of tendu leaves registered under sub-section (1)
shall furnish such declarations, accounts and returns in such forms and to such officer and at
such intervals as may be prescribed.
12. Disposal of tendu leaves - Tendu Leaves purchased by the State Government or by its officer or
agent under this Act shall be sold or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the State
Government may direct.
13. Retail sale of tendu leaves .- (1) No p erson shall engage himself in retail sale of tendu leaves
except under a license granted under this section.
(2) The State Government may, for the purpose of facilitating retail sale of tendu leaves within the
state; grant license to as many persons as it may deem fit.
(3) Any person who desires to engage himself in retail sale of tendu leaves shall make an
application in such form, to such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
14. Delegation of powers - The State Government may, by order, delegate any of its powers or
functions under this Act or the rules made there under to any officer or authority not below the
rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forest who shall exercise or perform the same, subject to such
conditions and restriction as the State Government may specify in the order.
15. Power of entry, search, seizure, etc. – (1) Any Forest Officer not below the rank of a Forester or
any police officer not below the rank of an Assistant Sub-Inspector or any person authorized by the
State Government may with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of t his Act or the
rules made thereunder or to satisfying himself that the said provisions have been complied with;
(i) stop and search any person, boat or vehicle intended to be used for the transport of tendu
leaves;
(ii) enter and search any place;
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 6
(iii) seize tender leaves in respect of which he suspects that any provision of t his Act or the rules
made thereunder has been is being or is about to be contravened along with the receptacle
containing such leaves, or the vehicle or boats used in carrying such leaves.
(2) The provisions of section 100 of the Code Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of
1974) relating to search and seizure, shall so far as may be, apply to searches and seizures
under this section.
16. Penalty– if any person contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder:-
(a) he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine
which may extend to five hundred rupees or with: and
(b) the tendu leaves in respect of which such contravention has be en made or such part
thereof as the court may deem fit shall be forfeited to the Government;
Provided that if the Court is of the opinion that it is not necessary to direct forfeiture in
respect of the whole, or any part of the leaves, as the case may be, it may, for reasons to be
recorded refrain from doing so.
17. Attempts and abetment – Any person who attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of
any provision of this Act or the rules made there under shall be deemed to have contravened such
provision.
18. Cognizance of offences.- No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act
except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made by any Forest Officer not
below the rank of a Divisional Forest Officer or by any other officer as may be authorized by the
State Government in this behalf.
19. Compounding offences – (1) The State Government may, b y notification, empower a Forest
officer to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicions exists that he has
committed an offence punishable under this Act, a sum of money by way of compensation for the
offence which such person is suspected to have committed.
(2) On the payment of such sum of money to such officer the suspected persons shall be
discharged the property, other than tendu leaves, if any, seized shall be released, and on further
proceedings shall be taken against such person of property.
(3) A Forest Officer shall not be empowered under this Act unless he is a Forest Officer, of a rank
not inferior to that of a Divisional Forest Officer, and the sum of money accepted as
compensation under sub-section (1) shall in no case exceed the sum of one thousand rupees.
20. Savings in respect of acts done in good faith- (1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings
shall he against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be so done in
pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder.
(2) No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against the State Government for any damage
caused or likely to be caused or any injury suffered or likely to be suffered by virtue of the
provisions of this Act or by anything which i s in good faith done or intended to be so done in
pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder.
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 7
21. Power to make rules - (1) The State Government may subject to the condition of previous
publication, make rules to carry out all or any of the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the terms, condition and the procedure for appointment of agents under section 4;
(b) the terms and conditions of a permit subject to which tendu leaves may be transported, the
authority by which and the manner in which such permit shall be issued under cla use (b) of
sub-section (2) of section 5;
(c) (i) the manner of conduct of business of the Committee under sub-section (3) of section 6;
(ii) the allowances to which the members of the committee shall be entitled under sub -
section (4) of section 6;
(d) the publication of the price list of tendu leaves under section 7 ;
(e) the manner of holding enquiry under sub-section (3) of section 9;
(f) (i) the prescription of quantity of tendu leaves under section 10;
(g) (ii) the manner of registration under section 10;
(h) (i) the period within which, the fee on payment of which and the manner in which the
registration under sub-section.(1) of section 11 shall be made;
(ii) declarations, accounts and returns which shall be s ubmitted under sub -section (2) of
section 11 and the form in which, the officer to whom and the intervals at which they
shell be submitted;
(i) the form in which, the authority to whom and the manner in which an application under
sub-section (3) of section 13 shall be made;
(j) any other matter which is either expressly or impliedly required to be prescribed under
this Act.
(3) Every rule made under this Act, shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before the
House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days which
may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the House agrees in making
any modification In the rule or the House agrees that the rules should not be made, and notifies
such decision in the Official Gazette, the rules shall from the date of publication of such
notification have effect only in such modified 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.
22. Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 and other laws not to apply to tendu leaves for purposes covered
under this Act .-(1) Nothing contained in the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 (Rajasthan Act XIII of
1953) shall apply to tendu leaves in respect of matters for which provisions are contained In this
Act.
Hkkx 4 ¼d½ jktLFkku jkt&i=] vizSy 11] 1974 8
(2) Nothing contained in any other law, rule, order or in any other thing having a force of law in
any part of the State shall apply to tendu leaves in respect of matters for which provisions are
contained in this Act.
23. Removal of difficulties:- If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the
State Government may, by order, do anything not inconsistent with such provisions, which appear
to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty.
24. Repeat and Savings: - (1) The Rajasthan Tendu Leaves (Regulation of Trade) Ordinance, 1973
(Ordinance No. 10 of 1973) is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the said Ordinance, anything done or 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 fourth day of December, 1973.
lEir jkt fla/kh
Secretary to the Government
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Government Central Press, Jaipur.