West Bengal Scheduled Castes Development And Finance Corporation Act, 1976
No: 39 Dated: Jul, 23 1976
THE WEST BENGAL SCHEDULED CASTES DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE CORPORATION ACT, 1976
West Bengal Act XXXIX of 1976
An Act to establish a Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Finance Corporation in West Bengal.
Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of a Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Finance Corporation in West Bengal;
It is hereby enacted as follows :-
1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Finance Corporation Act, 1976.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(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 there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -
(a) "the Corporation" means the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Finance Corporation established under section 3;
(b) "marketing" includes all activities in connection with the transport, grading, pooling, marketing and sale of industrial produce, whether in the primary form or in semi-processed or processed form;
(c) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(d) "Scheduled Castes" shall have the same meaning as in clause (24) of Article 366 of the Constitution of India (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution);
(e) "traditional occupation" means caste-based occupations such as those followed by the Muchis, Dorns, Dhobas, Jalias, Mals, etc.
3. Incorporation. - (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development and Finance Corporation for West Bengal.
(2) The Corporation shall be a body corporate by the name notified under sub-section (1) and having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
4. Constitution of the Corporation. - (1) The Corporation shall consist of the following members, namely :-
(a) the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Community Development, Government of West Bengal, ex officio;
(b) the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of West Bengal, ex officio;
(c) the Secretary, Department of Co-operation, Government of West Bengal, ex officio;
(d) the Secretary, Department of Cottage and Small-Scale Industries, Government of West Bengal, ex officio;
(e) the Secretary, Department of Forests, Government of West Bengal, ex officio;
(f) the Chairman of the West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board established under section 3 of the West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board Act, 1959, ex officio;
(g) such number of other members not exceeding fifteen but not less than five as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:
Provided that at least five members of the Corporation shall be from amongst the members of the Scheduled Castes.
(2) The State Government shall appoint one of the members as the Chairman and may, if it thinks fit, appoint another member as the Vice-Chairman of the Corporation.
(3) In the event of the capital of the Corporation being raised by the issue of shares to the members of the public, provision shall be made by rules made under this Act for the representation of such share-holders in the Corporation and the manner in which the representatives shall be elected by such share-holders.
(4) The term of, and the manner of filling casual vacancies among,the members of the Corporation shall be such as may be prescribed.