ANDHRA PRADESH (TELANGANA AREA) IMPROVED SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS ACT, 1951

28 of 1951

5th October, 1951

An Act to provide for the use of pure and certified seeds and seedlings of the improved varieties of crops recommended by the Department of Agriculture in Hyderabad. Preamble:- Whereas it is expedient to provide for the use of pure and certified seeds and seedlings of the improved varieties of crops recommended by the Department of Agriculture in Hyderabad. It is hereby enacted as follows:

Section 1 Short title, extent and date of commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Improved Seeds and Seedlings Act, 1851.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Telangana area of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

(3) It shall come into force on such date or dates and such areas as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, and different dates may be appointed for different areas.

Section 2 Definitions

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,

(i) "improved seed" means the seed approved by the Department of Agriculture;

(ii) "Seedlings" means the plants raised from improved seeds;

(iii) "occupier" means the person having for the time being the right of occupation of any land and includes any person in actual occupation of any land or his agent;

(iv) "authorised agent" means an agent authorised to sell improved seeds or seedlings, only on behalf of the Department of Agriculture

Section 3 Power to declare seeds or seedlings of approved varieties of crops and to specify the area and period, and restrict movement

In the areas to which this Act is applied -

(a) improved seeds or seedlings only shall be used by each and every occupier;

(b) the movement of improved seeds or seedlings from one area to another may by notification be prohibited or restricted by Government.

Section 4 Provision of seeds and seedlings by Agricultural Department

(1) For the purposes of this Act improved seeds and seedlings shall made available for sale by the Department of Agriculture, through its authorised agents, who shall stock for sale only improved seeds or seedlings.

(2) An authorised agent shal not withhold from sale improved seeds or seedlings to any occupier.

Section 5 Powers of the officers of the Agricultural Department to enter upon any land or premises

(1) An Agricultural Assistant on district work, or any officer of the Agricultural Department specially authorised by Government in this behalf may for the more effective enforcement of the provisions of this Act enter upon any land situated in any area to which this Act extends for the purpose of ascertaining whether improved seeds or seedings have been grown in the land or not.

(2) Any such Agricultural Assistant or officer of the Agricultural Department may enter upon any land or premises owned or occupied by an authorised agent to inspect the seeds sold by him or to enquire if he is not withholding any seed from sale to any occupier or to search as far as my be necessary for that purpose the land or premises.

Section 6 Penalities

(1) If any occupier of land within the area to which this Act applies is found growing a variety of any crop other than a variety approved by the Department of Agriculture, he shall be liable to punishment with a fine which may extend to Rs. 100.

(2) If an authorised agent withholds from sale or wilfully refuses to sell improved seeds or seedlings he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to rupees five hundred.

(3) Any abetment of a breach of the provisions of this Act shall be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs. 100.

(4) No prosecution for any offence under this Act or rules made thereunder shall be instituted except on a complaint in writing made by the Director of Agriculture, [ ] or by an officer specially authorised by him in this behalf.

Section 7 Bar of suit or other legal proceedings

No suit, prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against any public servant in respect of anything in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

Section 8 Power of Government to make rules

The Government may from time to time make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act and such rules may provide that the breach of any of rules or abetment thereof shall be punishable with fine not exceeding Rs. 100/-.