Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2012
No: 5 Dated: Mar, 30 2012
THE MEGHALAYA FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ACT, 2012
ACT NO. 5 OF 2012
An Act to provide tor the maintenance of Fire and Emergency Service in the State of Meghalaya.
Whereas, it is expedient to provide for the maintenance of fire and emergency services in the Slate of Meghalaya;
It is enacted by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya in the Sixty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows: -
1. Short title, extent and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act,2012.
(2) It extends to the whole State of Meghalaya
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definations:- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the subject or context -
(a) “Act” means the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2012;
(b) “Director” means the Director of Fire and Emergency Services appointed under Section 5;
(c) “Fire fighting property” includes -
(i) lands and buildings directly or indirectly connected with fire fighting;
(ii) fire engines, equipments, tools, implements and materials whatsoever used for fire fighting;
(iii) motor vehicles and other means of transport used in connection with fire fighting; or
(iv) uniform and badges or rank;
(d) “Fire Station” means any post or place declared, generally or specifically by the State Government to be a fire station;
(e) “Services” means the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services maintained under this Act;
(f) “Jurisdiction” means an area over which a Fire Station usually operates;
(g) “Licensing Authority” means such officer as may be authorized by the State Government;
(h) “Member” means and includes a member of the service who performs operational, supervisory, directional and executive duties in such ranks as may be prescribed by the State Government;
(i) “Officer in-charge” of a Fire Station includes the Fire Officer next in rank to the Officer in-charge of Fire Station or any other Officer holding charge of the Fire Station in absence of the Officer-in-charge;
(j) “Owner” includes occupier of a building, property, place, warehouse, workshop;
(k) “Pandal” means puja pandals and other pandals for big public gathering but does not include erection of pandals in private compound or places for use during bereavement, marriage ceremony and such other occasions in private gathering;
(l) “Place” means either enclosed or covered or open land having buildings or premises within 22 meters on any side of its surroundings;
(m) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act by the State Government;
(n) “State Government” means the Government of the State of Meghalaya;
(o) “Treasury” means the Government Treasury;
(p) “Warehouse” means any building or place used whether temporarily or permanently for storing, keeping or otherwise dealing in any manner of such articles which in the opinion of the State Government are considered inflammable;
Explanation:- Godowns, factories, workshops, shops dealing in any manner with prescribed inflammable articles will be regarded as “Ware House” for the purpose of this Act;
(q) “Workshop” means any building or place where the processing of any article is carried on for purposes of trade or business, if such possessing of such articles which in the opinion of the State Government is considered inflammable and are notified in this respect;
Explanation: - The expression “processing” means making, altering, repairing, treating or otherwise dealing with any article by means of steam, electricity or other mechanical power;
(r) “Local Authority” means any Local Body and include Municipal Boards, Town Committees, Cantonment Boards, Durbar Shnongs or Village Councils and such other bodies as may be notified by the Government.