Assam Yoga Council Act, 2018
No: 7 Dated: Apr, 10 2018
THE ASSAM YOGA COUNCIL ACT, 2018
ASSAM ACT NO. VII OF 2018
An Act to provide for the development of the Yoga and to regulate the teaching and practice thereof in the State of Assam and the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Preamble:- Whereas, it is expedient, in the public interest, to provide for the development of the Yoga Council and to regulate the teaching and practice thereof and to deal with certain other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto;
It is hereby enacted in the Sixty-ninth year of the Republic of India, by the legislature of Assam, as follows :-
1. Short title, extent and commencement:-(1) This Act may be called the Assam Yoga Council Act, 2018.
(2) It extends to whole of Assam.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Accreditation" means the recognition granted to educational institutions and hospitals to signify the attainment of an acceptable level of professional expertise, academic quality and integrity;
(b) "Competent Authority" means the Assam Yoga Council, which shall grant registration and accreditation under this Act and the rules made hereunder and shall have the authority to conduct inspections and evaluation visits for the purpose;
(c) "Council" means the Assam Yoga Council constituted under section 3;
(d) "Hospital" means a Yoga and Naturopathy Hospital with minimum of ten in-patient beds and an out-patient department;
(e) "Institution" means,-
(i) Medical college conducting the Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) Course and Post-graduate Courses;
(ii) Yoga based treatment institution; and
(iii) Research institute on yoga;
(iv) Universities conducting Bachelor degree, Master degree and Research in Yogic science and Naturopathy
(f) "Member" means a member of the Council;
(g) "Practitioner" means a person who practices Yoga as his principal occupation;
(h) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i) "President" means the President of the Council;
(j) "Register" means the Register of Yoga practitioners maintained under this Act;
(k) "Registered Yoga Practitioner" means a Yoga Practitioner registered under the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under;
(l) "Registrar" means the Registrar of the Council and shall be deemed to be the Registrar for all purposes of this Act;
(m) "Registration" means the registration of Yoga Practitioners under this Act;
(n) "Regulations" means the regulations made by the Council under this Act;
(o) "Rules" means the rules made by the State Government under this Act;
(p) "Teacher" means any person appointed to hold a teaching post by a Yoga institution affiliated to, or recognized by the Council;
(q) "Vice-President" means the Vice-President of the Council;
(r) "Yoga" means a set of physical, mental and spiritual practices for holistic enhancement of health, generally based on the principles as prescribed in Yoga Sutra by Patanjali.
3. Constitution of the Council:- As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal named the Assam Yoga Council. The Council shall be entitled, to acquire and hold movable and immovable property, to transfer such property, to enter into contract and to do all things necessary for the purposes of this Act and shall by its name sue and be sued.