Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948
No: 41 Dated: Sep, 03 1948
THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS (OATHS AND FEES) ACT, 1948
ACT NO. 41 OF 1948
An Act to provide for the administration of oaths by diplomatic and consular officers and to prescribe the fees leviable in respect of certain of their official duties.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the administration of oaths by diplomatic and consular officers and for the levy of fees in respect of certain official duties performed by them;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
1. Short title.—This Act may be called the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948.
2. Definitions.—In this Act,—
(a) “consular officer” includes consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent, pro-consul and any other person authorised to perform the duties of consul-general, consul, vice-consul or consular agent;
(b) “diplomatic officer” means any ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d’affaires, or secretary of embassy or legation; and (c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
3. Powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad.—(1) Every diplomatic or consular officer may, in any foreign country or place where he is exercising his functions, administer any oath and take any affidavit and also do any notarial act which any notary public may do within a State; and every oath, affidavit and notarial act administered, sworn or done by or before any such person shall be as effectual as if duly administered, sworn or done by or before any lawful authority in a State.
(2) Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed or subscribed thereon or thereto the seal and signature of any person authorised by this Act to administer an oath in testimony of any oath, affidavit or act, being administered, taken or done by or before him, shall be admitted in evidence without proof of the seal or signature being the seal or signature of that person, or of the official character of that person.
4. Punishment for offences under this Act.—(1) Whoever swears falsely in any oath or affidavit taken or made in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever forges or fraudulently alters the seal or signature of any person authorised by or under this Act to administer an oath or tenders in evidence, or otherwise uses, any affidavit having any seal or signature so forged or counterfeited or fraudulently altered knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited or fraudulently altered, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
5. Trial of offences.—Any offence under this Act may be inquired into, dealt with, tried and punished in any State in which the person charged with the offence was apprehended or is in custody, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the offence had been committed within the State where he was apprehended or is in custody.
6. Power to prescribe fees.—(1) The Central Government may, from time to time, prescribe the fees to be levied in respect of any matter or thing done by a diplomatic or consular officer in the execution of his office.
(2) All such fees shall be levied, accounted for and applied and may be remitted in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) A diplomatic or consular officer shall not, save as may be provided by any rules made in this behalf, ask for or take any fee or reward for or on account of any act or thing, or service done, performed or rendered by him in the execution of his office.
7. Publication and issue of tables of fees.—(1) Tables of the fees which may, for the time being, be levied under the rules shall be published in such manner and copies thereof shall be issued gratuitously to such persons as may be prescribed.
(2) Every consular officer, and every diplomatic officer in any: foreign country or place where there is no consular officer, shall keep exhibited in a conspicuous place in his office a copy of the table of fees to be levied under this Act and shall permit the same to be inspected by any person interested therein.