The Tamil Nadu Horse Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) Act, 1979

TAMIL NADU HORSE RACES (ABOLITION OF TURF AGENCIES) ACT, 1979 
(TAMIL NADU ACT NO 55 OF 1979) 
 
Arrangement of sections 
 
1. Short title and commencement. 
2. Definitions.  
3. Abolition of the system of turf agencies.  
4. Prohibition of the system of turf agencies. 
5. Penalty.  
6. Offences by companies.  
7. Indemnity.  
8. Power to make rules.  
9. Act to override other laws, decrees, etc.  
10. Repeal and saving.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TAMIL NADU HORSE RACES (ABOLITION OF TURF AGENCIES) ACT, 1979 
(TAMIL NADU ACT NO 55 OF 1979) 
[3rd December 1979] 
 
An Act to provide for the abolition of the system of turf agencies in respect of any horse race in 
the State of Tamil Nadu. 
BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Tamil Nadu in the Thirtieth Year of the Republic 
of India as follows:- 
1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Horse 
Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) Act, 1979. 
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 19th October 1979. 
2. Definitions.—  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 
(a) "bet" includes wager; 
(b) "Government" means the State Government; 
(c) "horse" means a male horse and includes mare, gelding, filly, pony or any other horse by 
whatever name called; 
(d) "horse-race" means any race in which any horse runs or is made to run in competition 
with any other horse,- 
(i) for any prize of whatever nature or kind, or 
(ii) for any bet made or to be made, or 
(iii) for both such prize and bet, in respect of any such horse, or the rider thereof; 
(e) "turf agency" means any agency which carries on the business of,- 
(i) receiving bets from the public in general, or 
(ii) purchasing tickets on behalf of punters, or 
(iii) making bets on behalf of punters, 
for commission or remuneration in respect of any horse run in a horse -race or in 
respect of any rider of such horse; 
(f) "turf agent" includes any person who, by way of business,- 
(i) receives bets from the public in general, or 
(ii) purchases tickets on behalf of punters, or 
(iii) makes bets on behalf of punters, 
for commission or remuneration in respect of any horse rim in a horse -race or in 
respect of any rider of such horse. 
3. Abolition of the system of turf agencies.—The system of carrying on the business of a turf 
agency or a turf agent in respect of any horse-race is hereby abolished. 
4. Prohibition of the system of turf agencies .—  No person shall carry on the business of a 
turf agency or a turf agent in respect of any horse-race. 
5. Penalty .— Any person who contravenes or abets the contravention of the provisions of 
section 4 or any rules made under this Act shall be punishable w ith rigorous imprisonment for a 
period which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. 
6. Offences by companies .— (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a 
company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed , was in-charge of, and was 
responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the 
company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded 
against and punished accordingly: 
Provided that nothing contained in this sub -section shall render any such person liable to any 
punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had 
exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 
    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), where any offence under this Act 
has been committed by a company and is proved that the offence has been committed with the 
consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of a ny director, manager, 
secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary, or other officer 
shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and 
punished accordingly. 
Explanation. - For the purposes of this section,- 
(a) "company" means any body corporate, and includes a firm or other association of 
individuals; and 
(b) "director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm. 
7. Indemnity.— (1) No suit or other proceeding shall lie against the Government for any act 
done or purporting to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder. 
   (2) No suit, prosecution or other proceeding shall lie against any authority or officer, or servant 
of the Government for any act done or purporting to be done in good faith under this Act or any 
rule made thereunder. 
8. Power to make rules .— (1) The Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of 
this Act. 
   (2) All rules made under this Act shall  be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette 
and, unless they are expressed to come into force on a particular day, shall come into force on 
the day on which they are so published. 
   (3) Every rule made under this Act shall, as soon as possible, aft er it is made, be placed on 
the table of  [the Legislative Assembly]  and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so 
placed or the next session, [the Legislative Assembly agrees] in making any modification in any 
such rule or  [Legislative Assembl y agrees]  that the rule should not be made, the rule shall, 
thereafter, 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. 
9. Act to override other laws, decrees, etc .— The provisions of this Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in 
force, or any custom, usage or decree or order of a Court or other authority. 
10. Repeal and saving .— (1) The Tamil Nadu Horse Race (Abolition of Turf Agencies) 
Ordinance, 1979 (Tamil Nadu Ordinance 20 of 1979), is hereby repealed. 
   (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any  action taken under the said Ordinance 
including any rules made shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, be deemed to 
have been done or taken under this Act and shall continue in force accordingly, unless and until 
superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act. 
 

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