THE MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT, 1972                                                                                                                                        

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS                                                                                                            

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CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 

2. Declaration as to expediency of control by the Union. 

3. Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 

4. Establishment and constitution of the Authority. 

5. Acts or proceedings of Authority or its Committees not to be invalidated. 

6. Salary and allowances of Chairman. 

7. Executive officers of the Authority and other staff. 

8. Committees of the Authority. 

9. Functions of the Authority. 

10. Dissolution of the Authority. 

CHAPTER III 

REGISTRATION 

11. Registration of fishing vessel, processing plant, etc. 

12. Application, cancellation, fee payable and other matters relating to registration. 

13. Returns to be made by owners. 

CHAPTER IV 

FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 

14. [Repealed.]. 

15. [Repealed.]. 

16. Grants and loans by the Central Government. 

17. Constitution of the Fund. 

18. Borrowing powers of the Authority. 

19. Accounts and audit. 

CHAPTER V 

CONTROL BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 

20. Power to prohibit or control imports and exports of marine products. 

21. Directions by Central Government. 

22. Returns and reports. 

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CHAPTER VI 

MISCELLANEOUS 

SECTIONS 

23. Penalty for making false returns. 

24. Penalties for obstructing a member or officer of the Authority in the discharge of his duties 

and for failure to produce books and records. 

25. Other penalties. 

26. Offences by companies. 

27. Jurisdiction of court. 

28. Previous sanction of Central Government. 

29. Protection of action taken in good faith. 

30. Power to delegate. 

31. Suspension of operation of Act. 

32. Application of other laws not barred. 

33. Power of Central Government to make rules. 

34. Power to make regulations. 

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THE MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT, 1972 

ACT NO. 13 OF 1972 

[20th April, 1972.] 

An  Act  to  provide  for  the  establishment  of  an  Authority  for  the  development  of  the  marine 

products industry under the control of the Union and for matters connected therewith. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-third Year of the Republic of India a follows:— 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Marine Products Export 

Development Authority Act, 1972. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 
(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint: 

Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act. 

2. Declaration as to expediency of control by the Union.—It is hereby declared that it is expedient 

in the public interest that the Union should take under its control the marine products industry. 

3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a)  “Authority”  means  the  Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  established  under      

section 4; 

(b) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Authority; 

(c) “conveyance” includes a carrier vessel or a vehicle; 

(d) “dealer” means a dealer in any of the marine products; 

(e)  “Director”  means  the  Director  of  Marine  Products  Export  Development  appointed  under 

section 7; 

(f)  “export”  and  “import”  mean  respectively  taking  out  of,  or  bringing  into,  India  by  land,  sea     

or air; 

(g)  “fishing  vessel”  means  a  ship  or  boat  fitted  with  mechanical  means  of  propulsion  which  is 

exclusively engaged in sea-fishing for profit; 

(h) “marine products” includes all varieties of fishery products known commercially as shrimp, 
prawn,  lobster,  crab,  fish,  shell-fish,  other  aquatic  animals  or  plants  or  part  thereof  and  any  other 
products  which  the  Authority  may,  by  notification  in  the  Gazette  of  India,  declare  to  be  marine 
products for the purposes of this Act; 

(i) “member” means a member of the Authority; 

(j)  “owner”,  in  relation  to  any  fishing  vessel  or  in  relation  to  any  processing  plant  or  storage 
premises  for  marine  products  or  in  relation  to  any  conveyance  used  for  the  transport  of  marine 
products, includes— 

(i) any agent of the owner; and 

(ii) a mortgagee, lessee or other person in actual possession of the fishing vessel, processing 

plant, storage premises or conveyance; 

1. 12th July, 1972, vide notification No. G.S.R. 388(E), dated 12th July, 1972, in respect of the provisions of sections other 

than sections 11 to 19 (both inclusive), see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i). 

     15th  January,  1973,  vide  notification  No.  G.S.R.  8(E),  dated  10th  January,  1973,  in  respect  of  the  provisions  of     

sections 11 to 19 (both inclusive), see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i). 

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(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

(l) “processing”, in relation to marine products, includes the preservation of such products such as 
canning, freezing, drying, salting, smoking, peeling or filleting and any other method of processing 
which the Authority may, by notification in the Gazette of India, specify in this behalf. 

CHAPTER II 

MARINE PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 

4. Establishment and constitution of the Authority.—(1) With effect from such date as the Central 
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, there shall be established 
for  the  purposes  of  this  Act,  an  Authority  to  be  called  the  Marine  Products  Export  Development 
Authority. 

(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a 
common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to 
contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued. 

(3) The Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:— 

(a) a Chairman to be appointed by the Central Government; 

(b) the Director of Marine Products Export Development, ex-officio; 

(c) three members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected  by the House of the People and 

one by the Council of States; 

(d)  five  members  to  represent  respectively  the  Ministries  of  the  Central  Government  dealing 

with— 

(i) agriculture, 

(ii) finance, 

(iii) foreign trade, 

(iv) industry, and 

(v) shipping and transport; 

(e) such number of other members not exceeding twenty as the Central Government  may think 
expedient,  to  be  appointed  by  that  Government  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette  from  among 
persons who are in its opinion capable of representing— 

(i) the Governments of the States or Union territories having a sea-coast; 

(ii) the interests of owners of fishing vessels, processing plants or storage premises for marine 

products and conveyances used for the transport of marine products; 

(iii) the interests of dealers; 

(iv) the interests of persons employed in the marine products industry; 

(v)  the  interests  of  persons  employed  in  research  institutions  engaged  in  the  researches 

connected with the said industry; and 

(vi)  such  other  persons  or class  of  persons  who, in the  opinion  of the  Central  Government, 

ought to be represented on the Authority. 

(4)  The  number  of  persons  to  be  appointed  as  members  from  each  of  the  categories  specified  in   

clause  (e)  of  sub-section  (3),  the  term  of  office  of  the  members  other  than  the  member  referred  to  in 
clause  (b)  of  that  sub-section,  and  the  manner  of  filling  vacancies  among,  and  the  procedure  to  be 
followed in the discharge of their functions by the members shall be such as may be prescribed. 

(5) Any officer of the Central Government, not being a member of the Authority, when deputed by 
that Government in this behalf, shall have the right to attend meetings of the Authority and take part in the 
proceedings thereof but shall not be entitled to vote. 

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(6) The Authority shall elect from among its members a Vice-Chairman who shall exercise such of 
the  powers  and  perform  such  of  the  functions  of  the  Chairman  as  may  be  prescribed  or  as  may  be 
delegated to him by the Chairman. 

5.  Acts  or  proceedings  of  Authority  or  its  Committees  not  to  be  invalidated.—No  act  or 
proceeding of the Authority or any Committee appointed by it under section 8, shall be invalidated merely 
by reason of— 

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Authority or such Committee; or 

(b)  any  defect  in  the  appointment  of  a  person  acting  as  a  member  of  the  Authority  or  such 

Committee; or 

(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Authority or such Committee not affecting the merits 

of the case. 

6.  Salary  and  allowances  of  Chairman.—The  Chairman  shall  be  entitled  to  such  salary  and 
allowances and such conditions of service in respect of leave, pension, provident fund and other matters 
as may, from time to time, be fixed by the Central Government. 

7. Executive officers of the Authority and other staff.—(1) The Central Government shall appoint 
a  Director  of  Marine  Products  Export  Development  to  exercise  such  powers  and  perform  such  duties 
under the Chairman as may be prescribed or as may be delegated to him by the Chairman. 

(2) The Central Government shall appoint a Secretary to the Authority to exercise such powers and 
perform  such  duties  under  the  Chairman  as  may  be  prescribed  or  as  may  be  delegated  to  him  by  the 
Chairman. 

(3) The Director and the Secretary to the Authority shall be entitled to such salaries and allowances 
and such conditions of service in respect of leave, pension, provident fund and other matters as may be 
fixed by the Central Government. 

(4)  Subject  to  such  control  and  restrictions  as  may  be  prescribed,  the  Authority  may  appoint  such 
other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of its functions and pay 
them such salaries and allowances as it may determine from time to time. 

(5)  The  Chairman,  the  Director,  the  Secretary  and  other  employees  of  the  Authority  shall  not 
undertake  any  work  unconnected  with  their  duties  under  this  Act  except  with  the  permission  of  the 
Central Government. 

8.  Committees  of  the  Authority.—(1)  The  Authority  may  appoint  such  Committees  as  may  be 

necessary for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under this Act. 

(2)  The  Authority  shall  have  the  power  to  co-opt  as  members  of  any  Committee  appointed  under   

sub-section (1) such other number of persons who are not members of the Authority, as it may think fit. 

9.  Functions  of  the  Authority.—(1)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Authority  to  promote,  by  such 
measures  as  it  thinks  fit,  the  development  under  the  control  of  the  Central  Government  of  the  marine 
products industry with special reference to exports. 

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the measures referred to 

therein may provide for— 

(a)  developing  and  regulating  off-shore  and  deep-sea  fishing  and  undertaking  measures  for  the 

conservation and management of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries; 

(b)  registering  fishing  vessels,  processing  plants  or  storage  premises  for  marine  products  and 

conveyances used for the transport of marine products; 

(c) fixing of standards and specifications for marine products for purposes of export; 

(d)  rendering  of  financial  or  other  assistance  to  owners  of  fishing  vessels  engaged  in  off-shore 
and  deep-sea  fishing  and  owners  of  processing  plants  or  storage  premises  for  marine  products  and 
conveyances  used  for the  transport  of  marine  products,  and  acting  as  an  agency  for  such  relief  and 
subsidy schemes as may be entrusted to the Authority; 

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(e)  carrying  out  inspection  of  marine  products  in  any  fishing  vessel,  processing  plant,  storage 
premises,  conveyance  or  other  place  where  such  products  are  kept  or  handled,  for  the  purpose  of 
ensuring the quality of such products; 

(f) regulating the export of marine products; 

(g) improving the marketing of marine products outside India; 

(h) registering of exporters of marine products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed; 

(i)  collecting  statistics  from  persons  engaged  in  the  catching  of  fish  or  other  marine  products, 
owners  of  processing  plants  or  storage  premises  for  marine  products  or  conveyances  used  for  the 
transport of marine products, exporters of such products and such other persons as may be prescribed 
on any matter relating to the marine products industry and the publishing of statistics so collected, or 
portions thereof or extracts therefrom; 

(j) training in various aspects of the marine products industry; and 

(k) such other matters as may be prescribed. 

(3) The Authority shall perform its functions under this section in accordance with and subject to such 

rules as may be made by the Central Government. 

10. Dissolution of the Authority.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette and for reasons to be specified therein, direct that the Authority shall be dissolved from such date 
and for such period as may be specified in the notification: 

Provided  that  before  issuing  any  such  notification,  the  Central  Government  shall  give  a  reasonable 
opportunity to the Authority to make representations against the proposed dissolution and shall consider 
the representations, if any, of the Authority. 

(2) When the Authority is dissolved under the provisions of sub-section (1),— 

(a) all members notwithstanding that their term of office has not expired, shall, from the date of 

dissolution, vacate their offices as such members; 

(b) all powers and duties of the Authority shall, during the period of dissolution, be exercised and 

performed by such person or persons as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf; 

(c) all funds and other property vested in the Authority shall, during the period of dissolution, vest 

in the Central Government; and 

(d) as soon as the period of dissolution expires, the Authority shall be reconstituted in accordance 

with the provisions of this Act. 

CHAPTER III 

REGISTRATION 

11.  Registration  of  fishing  vessel,  processing  plant,  etc.—(1)  Every  owner  of  a  fishing  vessel, 
processing plant or storage premises for marine products or conveyance used for the transport of marine 
products shall, before the expiration of one month from the date on which he first became owner of such 
fishing vessel, processing plant, storage premises or conveyance, or before the expiration of three months 
from  the  date  of  coming  into  force  of  this  section,  whichever  is  later,  apply  to  the  Authority  for 
registration under this Act of every such fishing vessel, processing plant, storage premises, or conveyance 
owned by him: 

Provided that the Authority may, for sufficient reason, extend the time-limit for registration by such 

period as it thinks fit. 

(2) Registration once made shall continue to be in force until it is cancelled by the Authority. 

12. Application, cancellation, fee payable and other matters relating to registration.—The form 
of  application  for  registration  under  section  11  and  for  the  cancellation  of  such  registration,  the  fee 
payable  on  such  applications,  the  particulars  to  be  included  in  such  applications,  the  procedure  to  be 
followed in granting and cancelling registration and the registers to be kept by the Authority shall be such 
as may be prescribed. 

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13. Returns to be made by owners.—(1) Every owner referred to in sub-section (1) of section 11 
shall furnish to the Authority at the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner such returns as may be 
prescribed. 

(2)  The  Authority  may  authorise  a  member  or  any  of  its  officers  to  inspect  any  fishing  vessel, 
processing plant, storage premises or conveyance at any time to verify the accuracy of any return made 
under this section. 

CHAPTER IV 

FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 

14.  [Imposition  of  a  cess  on  marine  products  exported.]  Rep.  by  the  Repealing  and  Amending                       

Act, 2006 (24 of 2006), s. 2 and the First Schedule (w.e.f. 1-6-2006). 

15. [Payment of proceeds of cess to the Authority.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, s. 2 and 

the First Schedule ibid. (w.e.f. 1-6-2006). 

16.  Grants  and  loans  by  the  Central  Government.—The  Central  Government  may,  after  due 
appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the Authority by way of grants or loans 
such sums of money as the Central Government may consider necessary. 

17. Constitution of the Fund.—(1) There shall be formed a Fund to be called the Marine Products 

Export Development Fund and there shall be credited thereto— 

(a) the proceeds of the cess made over to the Authority by the Central Government; 

(b) all fees levied and collected in respect of registration made under this Act; 

(c)  any  other fee that  may  be  levied  and  collected  by  the  Authority  under  this Act  or the  rules 

made thereunder; 

(d) any grants or loans that may be made by the Central Government for the purposes of this Act; 

(e) any grants or loans that may be made by any institution for the purposes of this Act; and 

(f) all sums realised by the Authority in carrying out the measures referred to in section 9. 

(2) The Fund shall be applied— 

(a)  for  meeting  the  salaries,  allowances  and  other  remuneration  of  the  officers  and  other 

employees of the Authority; 

(b) for meeting the other administrative expenses of the Authority; 

(c) for meeting the cost of the measures referred to in section 9; and 

(d) for repayment of any loans from the Central Government or from any institution. 

18. Borrowing powers of the Authority.—Subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, the 
Authority shall have power to borrow on the security of the Marine Products Export Development Fund 
or any other asset for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 

19.  Accounts  and  audit.—(1)  The  Authority  shall  maintain  proper  accounts  and  other  relevant 
records  and  prepare  an  annual  statement  of  accounts,  including  the  profit  and  loss  account  and  the 
balance-sheet  in  such  form  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Central  Government  in  consultation  with  the 
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. 

(2) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at 
such  intervals  as  may  be  specified  by  him  and  any  expenditure  incurred  in  connection  with  such  audit 
shall be payable by the Authority to the Comptroller and Auditor-General. 

(3)  The  Comptroller  and  Auditor-General  of  India  and  any  person  appointed  by  him  in  connection 
with the audit of the accounts of the Authority shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in 
connection with such audit as the Comptroller  and Auditor-General has in connection with the audit of 
Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, 
connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Authority. 

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(4) The accounts of the Authority as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any 
other  person  appointed  by  him  in  this  behalf  together  with  the  audit  report  thereon  shall  be  forwarded 
annually  to  the  Central  Government  and  that  Government  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  laid  before  each 
House of Parliament. 

CHAPTER V 

CONTROL BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 

20.  Power  to  prohibit  or  control  imports  and  exports  of  marine  products.—(1)  The  Central 
Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make provision for prohibiting, restricting 
or otherwise controlling the import or export of marine products, either generally or in specified classes of 
cases. 

(2)  All  marine  products  to  which  any  order  under  sub-section  (1)  applies,  shall  be  deemed  to  be  

goods  of  which  the  import  or  export  has  been  prohibited  under  section  11  of  the  Customs                                
Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and all the provisions of that Act shall have effect accordingly. 

(3)  If  any  person  contravenes  any  order  made  under  sub-section  (1),  he  shall,  without  prejudice  to   

any  confiscation  or  penalty  to  which  he  may  be  liable  under  the  provisions  of  the  Customs                                     
Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), as applied by sub-section (2), be punishable with imprisonment for a term which 
may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. 

21. Directions by Central Government.—The Authority shall carry out such directions as may be 

issued to it from time to time by the Central Government for the efficient administration of this Act. 

22. Returns and reports.—(1) The Authority shall furnish to the Central Government, at such time 
and in such form and manner as may be prescribed or as the Central Government may direct, such returns 
and statements and such particulars in regard to any proposed or existing programme for the promotion 
and  development  of  the  marine  products  industry,  as  the  Central  Government  may,  from  time  to  time, 
require. 

(2)  Without  prejudice  to  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (1),  the  Authority  shall,  as  soon  as  possible 
after the end of each financial year, submit to the Central Government a report in such form and before 
such date, as may be prescribed, giving a true and full account of its activities, policy and programmes 
during the previous financial year. 

(3) A copy of the report received under sub-section (2) shall be laid before each House of Parliament. 

CHAPTER VI 

MISCELLANEOUS 

23.  Penalty  for  making  false  returns.—Any  person  who  being  required  by  or  under  this  Act  to 
furnish any return fails to furnish such return or furnishes a return containing any particular which is false 
and which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true shall be punishable with fine which may 
extend to five hundred rupees. 

24. Penalties for obstructing a member or officer of the Authority in the discharge of his duties 

and for failure to produce books and records.—Any person who— 

(a) obstructs any member authorised by the Chairman in writing or any officer or other employee 
of the Authority authorised by it in this behalf or any person authorised in this behalf by the Central 
Government or by the Authority, in the exercise of any power conferred, or in the discharge of any 
duty imposed, on him by or under this Act; or 

(b)  having  control  over  or  custody  of  any  account  book  or  other  record,  fails  to  produce  such 

book or record when required to do so by or under this Act, 

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which 
may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 

25. Other penalties.—Whoever contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of 
the provisions of this Act or of any rules made thereunder other than the provisions, punishment for the 
contravention  whereof  has  been  provided  for  in  sections  20,  23  and  24,  shall  be  punishable  with 

8 

 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand 
rupees,  or  with  both,  and  in  the  case  of  a  continuing  contravention  with  an  additional  fine  which  may 
extend to fifty rupees for every day during which such contravention continues after conviction for the 
first such contravention. 

26.  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 exercised all 
due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been 
committed  by  a  company  and  it  is  proved  that  the  offence  has  been  committed  with  the  consent  or 
connivance 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 also 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. 

27. Jurisdiction of court.—No court inferior to that of a Presidency magistrate or a Magistrate of the 

first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act. 

28. Previous sanction of Central Government.—No prosecution for any offence punishable under 

this Act shall be instituted except with the previous sanction of the Central Government. 

29. Protection of action taken in good faith.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall 
lie  against  the  Government,  or  the  Authority  or  any  Committee  appointed  by  it,  or  any  member  of  the 
Authority or such Committee, or any officer or other employee of the Government or of the Authority or 
any other person authorised by the Government or the Authority, for anything which is in good faith done 
or intended to be done under this Act or the rules made thereunder. 

30.  Power  to  delegate.—The  Central  Government  may,  by  order  notified  in  the  Official  Gazette, 

direct  that  any  power  exercisable  by  it  under  this  Act  (not  being  the  power  to  make  rules  under                     
section  33)  may  also  be  exercised,  in  such  cases  and  subject  to  such  conditions,  if  any,  as  may  be 
specified in the order, by such officer or authority as may be specified therein. 

31. Suspension of operation of Act.—(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that circumstances 
have arisen rendering it necessary that certain of the restrictions imposed by this Act should cease to be 
imposed or if it considers necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, the Central Government 
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, suspend or relax to a specified extent, either indefinitely or 
for such period as may be specified in the notification, the operation of all or any of the provisions of this 
Act. 

(2)  Where  the  operation  of  any  provision  of  this  Act  has  under  sub-section  (1)  been  suspended  or 
relaxed  indefinitely,  such  suspension  or  relaxation  may  at  any  time  while  this  Act  remains  in  force  be 
removed by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette. 

32. Application of other laws not barred.—The provisions of this  Act shall be in addition to and 

not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force. 

33.  Power  of  Central  Government  to  make  rules.—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by 

notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 

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(2)  In  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the number of persons to be appointed as members from each of  the categories specified in 
clause  (e)  of  sub-section  (3)  of  section  4,  the  term  of  office  and  other  conditions  of  service  of 
members, the manner of filling vacancies among, and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of 
their functions by, such members; 

(b) the circumstances in which and the authority by which a member may be removed; 

(c) the holding of a minimum number of meetings of the Authority every year; 

(d) the procedure to be followed at meetings of the Authority for the conduct of business and the 

number of members which shall form a quorum at a meeting; 

(e) the maintenance by the Authority of records of business transacted by the Authority and the 

submission of copies thereof to the Central Government; 

(f) the powers of the Authority, its Chairman, the Director and Committees of the Authority with 

respect to the incurring of expenditure; 

(g) the conditions subject to which the Authority may incur expenditure outside India; 

(h)  the  preparation  of  budget  estimates  of  receipts  and  expenditure  of  the  Authority  and  the 

authority by which the estimates are to be sanctioned; 

(i) the form and manner in which the accounts should be kept by the Authority; 

(j) the deposit of the funds of the Authority in banks and the investment of such funds; 

(k) the conditions subject to which the Authority may borrow; 

(l) the conditions subject to which and the manner in which contracts may be entered into by or 

on behalf of the Authority; 

(m)  the  additional  matters  in  respect  of  which  the  Authority  may  undertake  measures  in  the 

discharge of its functions; 

(n)  the  remuneration  and  other  allowances  payable  to  the  person  or  persons  referred  to  in      

clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10; 

(o) the form of, and the particulars to be contained in, any returns or reports to be made to the 

Authority under this Act; 

(p) the form of, and the manner of making applications for registration and for its cancellation by 
the Authority, the fee payable on such applications and the procedure to be followed in granting and 
cancelling registration and the conditions governing such registration; 

(q) the collection of any information or statistics in respect of marine products; 

(r) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed by, or provided for by rules under, this 

Act. 

(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each 
House of Parliament, 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 modification 
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 previously done under that rule. 

34. Power to make regulations.—(1) The Authority may make regulations not inconsistent with this 

Act and the rules made thereunder for enabling it to discharge its functions under this Act. 

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(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or 

any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the procedure to be followed at meetings of the Committees appointed by the Authority and 

the number of members which shall form a quorum at a meeting; 

(b)  the  delegation  to  the  Chairman,  members,  Director,  Secretary  or  other  officers  of  the 

Authority of any of the powers and duties of the Authority under this Act; 

(c) the travelling and other allowances of members of the Authority and of Committees thereof; 

(d) the pay and allowances and leave and other conditions of service of officers (other than those 

appointed by the Central Government) and other employees of the Authority; 

(e) the maintenance of its accounts; 

(f) the maintenance of the registers and other records of the Authority and its various Committees; 

(g) the appointment by the Authority of agents to discharge on its behalf any of its functions; 

(h) the persons by whom, and the manner in which, payments, deposits and investments may be 

made on behalf of the Authority. 

(3) No regulation made by the Authority shall have effect until it has been approved by the Central 
Government  and  published  in  the  Official  Gazette,  and  the  Central  Government,  in  confirming  a 
regulation, may make any change therein which appears to it to be necessary. 

(4) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, cancel any regulation which 

it has confirmed and thereupon the regulation shall cease to have effect. 

1[(5) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before 
each House of Parliament, 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 modification 
in  the  regulation  or  both  Houses  agree  that  the  regulation  should  not  be  made,  the  regulation  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 regulation.] 

1. Ins. by Act 4 of 1986, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 15-5-1986). 

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