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REGISTERED No. D-(D)-72

The Gazette of India

EXTRAORDINARY

PART II—Section 1

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

No. 138] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1976 BHADRA 15, 1898

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.

MINISTRY OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (Legislative Department) New Delhi, the 6th September, 1976/Bhadra 15, 1898 (Saka)

The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 5th September, 1976, and is hereby published for general information: —

THE BRAITHWAITR AND COMPANY (INDIA) LIMITED (ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS)

ACT, 1976

No. 96 OF 1976

[5th September, 1976]

An Act to provide for the aquisition and transfer of the undertakings of Messrs Braithwaite and Company (India) Limited for the purpose of ensuring the continuity of production of goods which are vital to the needs of the country, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS Messrs. Braithwaite and Company (India) Limited was engaged in the manufacture and production of railway wagons, structural steel works for bridges and heavy workshop buildings, pressed steel tanks, cranes, road rollers, jute carding machines, roll formers, power sweepers, grey iron castings and steel forgings and also in the machining of intricate components of large sizes;

AND WHEREAS as a result of heavy losses suffered by the Company, there had been a closure of certain works owned by the Company;

AND WHEREAS for the purpose of speedily bringing the closed works of the Company into operation, the management of the undertakings of the Company was taken over by the Central Government for a .limited, period, under section 18A of the Industries (Development and-Regula- tion) Act, 1951;

65 of 1951.

( 1 1 81 )

AND WHEREAS it is necessary to acquire the undertakings of the Company to ensure the continuance of the production of goods which are vital to the needs of. the country;

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-seventh Year of the

Republic of India as follows: —

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. (-) This Act mav be called the Braithwaite and Company (India)

Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1976.

Short title and com-' itaentte- raent. (2) The provisions of sections 28 and 29 shall come into force at once

and the remaining provisions of this Act shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April, 1975.

t. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

Defini-

tion.

(a) "appointed day" means the 1st day of April, 1975;

1 of 1956.

(b) "Company" means the Braithwaite and Company (India) Limited, being a company as denned in the Companies Act, 1956, and having its registered office at 5, Hide Road, Calcutta-700043;

(c) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Payments

appointed under section 14;

(d) "Ordinance" means the Braithwaite and Company (India)

Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1976; 7 of 1978.

(e) "notification" means a notification published in the Official

Gazette;

({•) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(g) "specified date" means such date as the Central Government niay, lor the purposes of any provision of this Act, by notification, specify and different dates may be specified for different provisions ot this Act;

l of 1958.

(h) words and expressions used herein and not denned but denned in ihe Companies Act, 1956, shall have the meanings, respectively, assigned to them in that Act.

CHAPTER II

ACQUISITION AND TRANS* T<:R OF THE UNDERTAKINGS OF THE COMPANY

3. On the appointed day, the undertakings of the Company, and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, shall, by virtue of this Act, be transferred to, and shall vest in, the Central Government

•. (1) The undertakings of the Company shall be deemed to include

Ofltaral effect "f

all assets, rights, lease-holds, powers, authorities and privileges, and all property, movable and immovable, including lands, buildings, workshops, stores, instruments, machinery and equipment, cash balances, cash on

hand, reserve iunds, investments, book debts and all other rights and in- terests in, or arising out of, such property as were immediately before the appointed day in the ownership, possession, power or control of the Com- pany, whether within or outside India, and all books of account, registers and all other documents of whatever nature relating thereto.

(2) All properties as aforesaid which have vested in the Central Gov- ernment under section 3 shall, by force of such vesting, be freed and discharged from any trust, obligation, mortgage, charge, lien and all other incumbrances affecting it, and any attachment, injunction or decree or •order of any court restricting the use of such property in any manner or appointing any receiver in respect of the whole or any part of such property shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(3) Every mortgagee of any property which has vested under this Act in the Central Government and every person holding any charge, lien or other interest in, or in relation to, any such property, shalU give, "Within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, an intimation "to the Commissioner of such mortgage, charge, lien or other interest.

(4) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the mortga- gee of any property referred to in sub-section (2) or any other person holding any charge, lien or other interest in, or in relation to, any such property shall be entitled to claim, in accordance with his rights and interest, payment of the mortgage money or other dues, in whole or in part, out of the amounts specified in section 7, and also out of the monies determined under section 8, but no such mortgage, charge, lien or other interest shall be enforceable against any property which has vested in "the Central Government,.

(5) If, on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding of whatever nature in relation to any property which has vested in the Central Government, under section 3, instituted or preferred by or against the Company is pending, the same shall not abate, be discontinued or be, in any way, prejudicially affected by reason of transfer of the under- takings of the Company or of anything contained in this Act, but the suit, appeal or other proceeding may be continued, prosecuted or enforced by or against the Central Government, or where the undertakings of the Company are directed under section 6, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company.

5. (1) Every liability of the Company in respect of any period prior to -the appointed day, shall be the liability of the Company and shall be en- forceable against it and not against the Central Government, or, where "the undertakings are directed, under section 6, to vest in a Government -company, against that Government company.

(2) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that,—

Central Govern- ment or the Govern- ment company not to toe liable for prior liabilities.

(a) save as otherwise expressly provided in this section or In any other provision of this Act, no liability of the Company in respect of any period prior to the appointed day, shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or, where the undertakings of the Com- p"ay are directed under section 6 to vest in a Government company, ugtttngb (hat Government company;

(b) no award, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority in relation to the undertakings of the Company, passed after the appointed day, in respect of any matter, claim or dispute which arose before that day, shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or, where the undertakings of the Company are direct- ed under section 6 to vest in a Government company, against that Government company;

(c) no liability incurred by the Company before the appointed, day, for the contravention of any provision of law for the time being in force, shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or, whare the undertakings of the Company are directed under section 6, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company.

ti. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 3 and 4, the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that a Government company is willing to comply, or has complied, with such terms and conditions as that Government may think fit to impose, direct, by notification, that the undertakings of the Company, and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, which have vested in the Central Government under section 3, shall, instead of continuing to vest in the Central Government, vest in the Government company either on the date of the notification or on such earlier or later date (not being a date earlier than the appointed day) as may be specified in the noti- fication.

Power of Central Govern- ment to direct vesting of the under- takings of th'e Company In a Govern- ment company.

(2) Where the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, vest in a Government company under sub-section (1), the Government company shall, on and from, the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the owner in relation to such undertakings,, and all the rights and liabilities of the Central Government in relation to such undertakings shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the rights and liabilities, respectively, of the Government company.

CHAPTER III

PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS

Payment of amount.

7, For the transfer to, and vesting in, the Central Government, under section 3, of the undertakings of the Company and the right, title and In- terest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, there alhall be given by the Central Government to the Company, in cash, and in the manner specified in Chapter VI, an amount of rupees sixteen crorea and twenty-five lakhs.

8. (I) For the deprivation of the Company of the management of its

Payment of further amount.

undertakings, there shall be given to the Company by the Central Gov- ernment an amount calculated at the rate of rupees fifty thousand per annum for the period commencing on the date on which the management of the undertakings of the Company was taken over by the Central Gov- ernment and ending on the appointed day,

(2) In consideration of the retrospective operation of the provisions of sections 3, 4 and 5, there shall also be given, in cash, by the Centra*! Gov- ernment to the Company, an amount equal to an amount calculated at the rate of rupees fifty thousand per annum for the period commencing on

the appointed day and ending on the date of promulgation of the Ordi- nance.

(3) The amount specified in section 7 and the amounts determined under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall carry simple interest at the rate of four per cent, per annum for the period commencing on the date of promulgation of the Ordinance and ending on the date on which payment of such amounts is made by the Central Government to the Commissioner.

(4) The amounts determined in accordance with the provisions of sub- sections (1), (2) and (3) shall be given by the Central Government to the Company in addition to the amount specified in section 7.

(5) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the liabili- ties of the Company, in relation to its undertakings which have vested in the Central Government under section 3, shall be discharged from the amounts referred to in section 7, and also from the amounts determined under sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), in accordance with the rights and interests of the creditors of the Company.

CHAPTER IV

MANAGEMENT, ETC., OF THE UNDEHTAKINGS OF THE COMPANY

9. (1) The general superintendence, direction, control and manage- ment of the affairs and business of the undertakings of the Company, the right, title and interest in relation to which have vested in the Central Government under section 3, shall,—

Manage- ment, etc., of the under- takings of the Company.

(a) where a direction has been made by the Central Government under sub-section (I) of section 6, vest in the Government company specified in such direction, or

(b) where no such direction has been made by the Central Gov- ernment, vest in one or more Custodians appointed by the Central Government under sub-section (2),

and thereupon the Government company so specified or the Custodian so appointed, as the case may be, shall be entitled to exercise all such powers and do all such things as the Company is authorised to exercise and do in relation to its undertakings.

(2) The Central Government may appoint one or more individuals or a Government company as the Custodian of the undertakings of the Company in relation to which no direction has been made by it under sub-section (1) of section 6.

10. (1) On the vesting of the management of the undertakings of the Company in a Government company or on the appointment of a Custo- dian, all persons in charge of the management of the undertakings of the Company immediately before such vesting or appointment, shall be bound to deliver to the Government company or the Custodian, as the case may be, all assets, books of account, registers or other documents in their custody relating to the undertakings of such Company.

Duty of persons in charge of manage- ment of the under- takings of the Company to deliver all assets, etc. (2) The Central Government may issue such directions as it may deem desirable in the circumstances of the case to the Government company or the Custodian as to its or his powers and duties and the Government company or Custodian may also, if it or he so desires, apply

to the Central Government at any time for instructions as to the manner in which the management of the undertakings of the Company shall be conducted by it or him or in relation to any other matter arising in the course of such management.

(3) The Custodian shall receive from the funds of the undertakings of the Company such remuneration as the Central Government may fix and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Central Government.

Accounts and audit.

1 of 1P56.

11. The Custodian of the undertakings of the Company shall main- tain an account of the undertakings of the Company in such form and manner and under such conditions as may be prescribed and the provi- sions of the Companies Act, 1956, shall apply to the audit of the account so maintained as they apply to the audit of the accounts of a company.

CHAPTER V

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY

14 of 1941.

Employ- ment of certain employees to con- tinue.

12. (2) Every person who is a workman within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and has been, immediately before the appointed day, employed in any undertaking of the Company shall become, on and from the appointed day, an employee of the Central Government or, as the case may be, of the Government company in which the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, have vested under this Act, and shall hold office or ser- vice under the Central Government or the Government company, as the case may be, with the same rights and privileges as to pension, gratuity and other matters as would have been admissible to him if there had been no such vesting and shall continue to do so unless and until his employment under the Central Government or the Government com- pany, as the case may be, is duly terminated or until his remuneration and other conditions of service are duly altered by the Central Govern- ment or the Government company, as the case may be.

14 of 1947.

(2) Every person who is not a workman within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and who has been, immediately before the appointed day, employed in any undertaking of the Company shall become, as from the appointed day, an employee of the Central Govern- ment or the Government company, and shall hold office or service therein by the same tenure, at the same remuneration and upon the tame terms and conditions and with the same rights and privileges as to pension and gratuity and other matters as would have been admis- sible to him if the undertakings of the Company had not been trans- ferred to, and vested in, the Central Government or the Government company, and shall continue to do so unless and until his employment in the Central Government or the Government company is duly termi- nated or until his remuneration, terms and conditions of employment are duly altered by the Central Government or the Government com- pany, as the case may be.

14 of 194?

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, or in any other law for the time being in force, the transfer of the services of any officer or other person employed in any under- taking of the Company to the Central Government or the Government company shall not entitle such officer or other employee to any compen- sation under this Act or under any other law for the time being in

force and no such claim shall be entertained by any court, tribunal or other authority.

(4) Where, under the terms of any contract of service or otherwise, any person, whose services become transferred to the Central Govern- ment or the Government company by reason of the provisions of this Act, is entitled to any arrears of salary or wages or any payments for any leave not availed of or any other payment, not being payment by way of gratuity or pension, such person may enforce his claim against the Company, but not against the Central Government or the Government company.

Provident and other funds.

13. (I) Where the Company has established a provident, super- annuation, welfare or other fund for the benefit of the persons employed In any of the undertakings of the Company, the monies relatable to the officers or other employees, whose services have become transferred by or under this Act to the Central Government or the Government com- pany, shall, out of the monies standing, on the appointed day, to the credit of such provident, superannuation, welfare or other fund, stand transferred to, and shall vest in, the Central Government or the Govern- ment company, as the case may be.

(2) The monies which stand transferred under sub-section (1) to the Central Government or the Government company, as the case may be, shall be dealt with by that Government or that Government company in such manner as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER VI

COMMISSIONER OF PAYMENTS

14. (1) The Central Government shall, for the purpose of disbursing the amounts payable to the Company under sections 7 and 8, by notifica- tion, appoint a Commissioner of Payments.

Appoint- ment of Commis- sioner of Payments.

(2) The Central Government may appoint such other persons as It may think fit to assist the Commissioner and thereupon the Commissioner may authorise one or more of such persons also to exercise all or any of the powers exercisable by him under this Act and different persona may be authorised to exercise different powers.

(3) Any person authorised by the Commissioner to exercise any of the powers exercisiable by the Commissioner may exercise those powers In the same manner and with the same effect as if they have been confer- red on that person directly by this Act and not by way of authorisation-

(4) The salaries and allowances of the Commissioner and other per- sons appointed under this section shall be defrayed out of the Consolida- ted Fund of India.

15. (1) The Central Government shall, within thirty days from the specified date, pay, in cash, to the Commissioner, for payment to the Company-

(a) an amount equal to the amount specified in section 7, and

Payment by the Central Govern- ment to the Com- missioner, (b) an amount equal to the amount payable to the Company under section 8.

(2) A deposit account shall be opened by the Central Government in favour of the Commissioner, in the Public Account of India, and every amount paid under this Act to the Commissioner shall be deposited by him to the credit of the said deposit account and the said deposit account shall be operated by the Commissioner.

(3) The interest accruing on the amount standing to the credit of the deposit account referred to in sub-section (2) shall enure to the benefit of the Company.

16. (2) The Central Government or the Government company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive up to the specified date, to the exclusion of all other persons, any money due to the Company, in relation to its undertakings which have vested in the Central Government, or the Government company, realised after the appointed day notwithstanding that the realisation pertains to a period prior to the appointed day.

Certain, powers of the Central Govern- ment or Govern- ment company. (2) The Central Government or the Government company, as the case may be, may make a claim to the Commissioner with regard to every payment made by it after the appointed day for discharging any liability of the Company in relation to any period prior to the appointed day; and every such claim shall have priority in accordance with the priorities attaching, under this Act, to the matter in relation to which such liability has been discharged by the Central Government or the Government company.

(3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the liabilities of the Com- pany in respect of any transaction prior to the appointed day, which have not been discharged on or before the specified date, shall be the liabilities of the Company.

17. Every person having a claim against the Company shall prefer such claim before the Commissioner within thirty days from the specified date:

Claims to be made to the Commis- sioner.

Provided that if the Commissioner is satisfied that the claimant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the claim within the said period of thirty days, he may entertain the claim within a further period of thirty days and not thereafter.

Priority of claims.

1$. The claims arising out of the matters specified in the Schedule shall have priorities in accordance with the following principles, namely: —

(a) Category I will have precedence over all other categories and

Category II will have precedence over Category III, and so on;

(b) the claims specified in each of the categories, except Cate- gory VI, shall rank equally and be paid in full, but, if the amount is insufficient to meet such claims in full, they shall abate in equal proportions and be paid accordingly;

(c) the liabilities specified in Category VI shall be discharged, subject to the priorities specified in this section, in accordance with the terms of the secured loans and the priority, inter se, of such loans; and

(d) the question of discharging any liability with regard to a matter specified in a lower category shall arise only if a surplus is

left after meeting all the liabilities specified in the immediately higher category.

Examina- tion of claims.

19. (1) On receipt of the claims made under section 17, the Commis- sioner shall arrange the claims in the order of priorities specified in the Schedule and examine the same in accordance with such order of priorities.

(2) If, on examination of the claims, tha Commissioner is of opinion that the amount paid to him under this Act is not sufficient to meet the liabilities specified in any lower category, he shall not be required to examine the claims in respect of such lower category.

Admis- sion or rejection of claims.

20. (1) After examining the claims with reference to the priorities set out in the Schedule, the Commissioner shall fix a certain date on or before which every claimant shall file the proof of his claim or be exclud- ed from the benefit of the disbursements made by the Commissioner.

(2) Not less than fourteen days' notice of the date so fixed shall be given by advertisement in one issue of a daily newspaper in English language and in one issue of such daily newspaper in the regional langu- age as the Commissioner may consider suitable, and every such notice shall call upon the claimant to file the proof of his claim with the Com- missioner Within the time specified in the advertisement.

(3) Every claimant who, fails to file the proof of his claim within the time specified by the Commissioner shall be excluded from the disburse- ments made by the Commissioner.

(4) The Commissioner shall, after such investigation as may, in bis opinion, be necessary and after giving the Company an opportunity of refuting the claim and after giving the claimant a reasonable opportunity of being heard, in writing, admit or reject the claim in whole or in part.

5 ol 1908.

(5) The Commissioner shall have the power to regulate his own pro- cedure in all matters arising out of the discharge of his functions, includ- ing the place or places at which he will hold his sittings and shall, for the purpose of making an investigation under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely: —

(a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;

(b) the discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence;

(c) the reception of evidence on affidavits;

(d) the issuing of any commission for the examination of wit- nesses.

45 of I860.

1 of 1974.

(6) Any investigation before the Commissioner shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code and the Commissioner shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 345 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(7) A claimant who is dissatisfied with the decision, of the Commis- sioner, may prefer an appeal against the decision to the principal civil court of original jurisdiction within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the registered office of the Company is situated:

Provided that where a person who is a Judge of a High Court is ap- pointed to be the Commissioner, the appeal shall lie to the High Court at Calcutta, and such appeal shall be heard and disposed of by not less than twcJ Judges of that High Court.

21. After admitting a claim under this Act, the amount due in. respect of such claim shall be paid by the Commissioner to the person or persons to whom such sums are due, and, on such payment, the liability of the Company in respect of such claim shall stand discharged.

Disburse- ment of money by the Com- missioner to claimant*.

22. (1) If, out of the monies paid to him in relation to the undertak- ings of the Company, there is a balance left after meeting the liabilities as specified in the Schedule, the Commissioner shall disburse such balance to the Company.

Disburse- ment of amounts to the Company.

(2) Where the possession of any machinery, equipment or other property, has vested in the Central Government or a Government com- pany under this Act, but such machinery, equipment or other property does not belong to the Company, it shall be lawful for the Central Government or the Government company to continue to possess such machinery or equipment or other property on the same terms and condi- tions under which they were possessed by the Company immediately before the 1st day of April, 1975.

23. Any money paid to the Commissioner which remains undisbursed or unclaimed for a period of three years from the last day on which the disbursement was made, shall be transferred by the Commissioner to the general revenue account of the Central Government; but a claim to any money so transferred may be preferred to the Central Government by the person entitled to such payment and shall be dealt with as if such transfer had not been made, the order, if any, for payment of the claim being treated as an order for the refund of the revenue.

Undis- bursed or unclaimed amount to be deposited to the general revenue account.

CHAPTER Vn

MISCELLANEOUS

Act to have overriding effect.

24. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding any- thing inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being Hn force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law, other than this Act, or in any decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority.

25. (1) Every contract entered into by the Company in relation to its undertakings for any service, sale or supply, and in force immediately before the appointed day, shall, on and from the expiry of one hundred and eighty days from the date of promulgation of the Ordinance, cease to have effect unless such contract is7 before the expiry of that period, ratified, in writing, by the Central Government or Government com- pany, and, in ratifying such contract, the Central Government or Govern- ment company may make such alteration or modification therein as it may think fit:

Contracts to cease to have effect unless ratified by the Central Govern- ment or Govern- ment company.

Provided that the Central Government or Government company shall not omit to ratify a contract, and shall not make any alteration or modi- fication in a contract, unless it is satisfied that such contract is unduly onerous or has been entered into in bad faith or detrimental to the in- terests of the Central Government or the Government company.

(2) The Central Government or Government company shall not omit to ratify a contract, and, shall not make any alteration or modification therein, except after giving to the parties to the contract a reasonable opportunity of being heard and except after recording, in writing, its reasons for refusal to ratify the contract or for making any alteration or modification therein.

Protection of action taken in good faith.

26. (1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or any officer of that Government or the Cus- todian or the Government company or any officer or other person autho* rised by that Government or Government company for anything which Is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or any of its officers or other employees or the Government company or any officer or other person authorised by that company for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

Delega- tion of powers.

27. (1) The Central Government may, by notification, direct that all or any of the powers exercisable by it under this Act, other than the power conferred by section 30, may also be exercised by such person or persons as may be specified in the notification.

(2) Whenever any delegation of power is made under sub-section (1), the person to whom such power has been delegated shall act under the direction, control and supervision of the Central Government.

28. Any person who,—

Penalties.

(a) having in his possession, custody or control any property forming part of any undertaking of the Company, wrongfully with- holds such property from the Central Government or Government company; or

(b) wrongfully obtains possession of, or retains, any property forming part of any undertaking; of the Company or wilfully with- holds or fails to furnish to the Central Government or Government company or any person or body of persons specified by that Govern- ment or Government company, any document relating to such undertaking which may be in hiB possession, custody or control or

fails to deliver to the Central Government or Government company or any person or body of persons specified by that Government or Government company, any assets, books of account, registers or other documents in his possession, custody or control, relating to the undertaking of the Company; or

(c) wrongfully removes or destroys any property forming part of any undertaking of the Company or prefers any claim under this Act which he knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be false or grossly inaccurate,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.

Offences by com- panies.

29. (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 dili- gence 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 it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or conniv- ance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any 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;

(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

30. (1) The Central Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Power to make rules.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the fore- going power, suchi rule* may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: —

(o) the time within which, and the manner in which, an intima- tion shall be given to the Commissioner under sub-section (3) of section 4;

(b) the form and the manner in which, and the conditions under which, the Custodian shall maintain accounts as required by section 11;

(c) the manner in which the monies in any provident or other fund referred to in section 13 shall be dealt with;

(d) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, pres- cribed.

(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parlia- ment, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modifica- tion in the rule or both Houses agree 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 previ- ously done under that rule.

Power to remove difficulties.

31. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, remove the difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date on which this Act receives the assent of the President,

32. It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing the principles specified in clause (b) of article 39 of the Constitution.

Declara- tion as to the policy of the State.

Explanation.—In this section, "State" has the same meaning as in article 12 of the Constitution.

33. (1) The Braithwaite and Company (India) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1976, is hereby repealed.

T ol 1976,

Repeal and saving.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Ordinance so repealed shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.

THE SCHEDULE

(See sections 18, 19 and 20)

ORDER OP PRIORITIES FOR THE DISCHARGE OP LIABILITIES OF THE COMPANY

PART 'A'

Post-take-over management period

Category I—

Wages, salaries and other dues of the employees of the Company.,

Category Il-

ia) (i) Loans advanced by the Central Government.

(ii) Secured loans advanced by banks and financial institutions.

Category III—

(a) Any other loans.

(b) Credit availed of by the Company for the purpose of carrying on any trading or manufacturing operations.

Category IV—

Revenue, taxes, cesses, rates or other dues of Central Government or a State Government.

PART 'B'

Pre-take-over management period

Category V—

Arrears in relation to contributions to be made by the Company to the provident fund, salaries and wages and other amounts due to em- ployees.

Category VI—

Secured loans.

Category VII—

Revenue, taxes, cesses, rates or any other dues to the Central Gov- ernment, a State Government, a local authority or a; State Electricity Board.

Category VIII—

(a) Any credit availed of by the Company for the purpose of trading or manufacturing operations.

(fa) Any other dues.

K. K. SUNDARAM, Secy, to the Govt. of India,

PRINTED BY THE OENERAL MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI AND PUBLISHED BY TI1E CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI, 1976