No: 17 Dated: Mar, 26 1958

THE KERALA AGRICULTURAL PESTS AND DISEASES ACT, 1958

(Act No. 17 of 1958)

    An Act to make provision for preventing tht spread of insect pests, plant diseases and noxious weeds withm the State of Kerala Preamble.-

WHEREAS it is expedient to take measures to prevent the spread of insect pests, plant diseases and noxious weeds injurious to health or to crops, plants, trees or watersupply or obstructive to waterways within the State of Kerala; Be it enacted in the Nmth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

PART I

PRELIMINARY

I. Short title, extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Kerala Agricultural Pest and Diseases Act, 1958.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Interpretatwn.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "insect pest" means any msect or other invertebrate animal which has been declared by notification under section 3 or section 9 of this Act to be an insect pest,

(b) "plant disease" means any fungoid, bactenal, parasitical or other disease which has been declared by notification under section 3 or section 9 of this Act to be a plant disease;

(c) "noxious weed" means any weed which has been declared by notification under sectiOn 3 of this Act to be a noxiOus weed,

(d) "plant" includes the fruit, leaves. bark, cuttings or any Jiving portion of a plant but does not include the seed unless the seed has been specially included m the defimtiOn of plant by the Government by notification, r

(e) "occupier" means the person having for the time bemg the right of occupation of any land, premises, or water or his authorised agent or any person in actual occupation of the land, premises or water, and includes a local authortty and a company havmg such 1·ight o occupation or in such actual occupation;

(f) "notified area" means the area covered by a notification published under section 3 or section 9;

(g) "Director of Agriculture" means an officer appointed by the Government to be the Director of Agriculture and includes every person who for the time being performs the duties of the office;

(h) "prescribed" means prescnbed by notification or rules mad() under this Act.