Forward Contracts Regulation Act 1952
Forward Contracts Regulation Act 1952
1.
2.
3.
JUNE 2003
CONTENTS
PARTICULARS
PAGE
NO.
01
34
41
44
44
44
45
46
3.
4.
4-A
5.
6.
7.
8.
Power of Central Government to call for periodical returns or direct
inquiries to be made.
9. Furnishing of annual reports to the Central Government by recognised
association.
9-A Power of recognised associations to make rules respecting grouping of
members, restricting voting rights, etc in special cases.
10
11
12
Power of Central Government to make, or amend bye-laws of recognised
associations.
12-A
CHAPTER
III-A
Registered Associations
14-A
14-B
CHAPTER IV
Forward contracts & Options in Goods
15.
Forward contracts in notified goods illegal or void in certain
circumstances.
16
17.
18
19
20
21
Penalty for owning or keeping place used for entering into forward
contracts in goods.
21A
22
Offences by companies.
CHAPTER VI
Miscellaneous
25.
Advisory Committee.
26.
Power to delegate.
27.
Power to exempt.
27 A
28.
29
CHAPTER I
Preliminary
1.
(1) This Act may be called the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952.
(2)
[1]
[* * *].
(3)
Chapter I shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions
shall come into force on such date or dates as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for
different provisions of this Act, for different States or areas, and for different goods
or classes of goods.
2.
Definition
(a)
not, constituted for the purpose of regulating and controlling the business of the
sale or purchase of any goods;
(b)
sec. 3;
(c)
[2]
[* * *]
contract, the rights or liabilities under which or under any delivery order, railway
receipt, bill of lading, warehouse receipt or any other documents of title relating
thereto are not transferable;
(g)
the purchase or sale of a right to buy or sell, or a right to buy and sell, goods in
future and includes a teji, a mandi, a teji-mandi, a galli, a put, a call or a put,
and call in goods;
(h)
(i)
[Provided that where any such contract is performed either wholly or in part:-
(1)
by tendering of the documents of title to the goods covered by the
contract by any party thereto (not being a commission agent or a bank) who
has acquired ownership of the said documents by purchase, exchange or
otherwise, to any other person (including a commission agent but not including
a bank); or
(2)
by the realisation of any sum of money being the difference
between the contract rate and the settlement rate or clearing rate or the rate
of any offsetting contract: or
(3)
by any other means whatsoever, and as a result of which the actual
tendering of the goods covered by the contract or payment of the full-price
therefor is dispensed with
then such contract shall not be deemed to be a ready delivery contract.
Explanation. - For the purpose of this clause. (i) bank includes any banking company as defined in the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949 (110 of 1949), a co-operative bank as defined in the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), the State Bank of India and any of its subsidiaries
and any corresponding new bank constituted under Sec. 3 of the Banking
Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970);
(ii) commission agent means a person who, in the ordinary course of
business, makes contract for the sale or purchase of goods for others for a
remuneration (whether known as commission or otherwise) which is determined
in the contract itself or determinable from the terms of the contract in either case,
only with reference to the quantity of goods or to the price therefor as stipulated
in the contract];
[4]
the time being has been granted by the Central Government under Sec. 6 in
respect of goods or classes of goods specified in such recognition;
(jj) registered association means an association to which for the time being
a certificate of registration has been granted by the Commission under Sec. 14-B];
(k) rules with reference to the rules relating in general to the constitution and
management of an association, includes in the case of an incorporated
association, its memorandum and articles of association;
(l) securities includes shares, scripts, stocks, bonds, debentures, debenturestocks, or other marketable securities of a like nature in or of any incorporated
company or other body corporate and also government securities:
(m) specific delivery contract means a forward contract which provides for
the actual delivery of specific qualities or types of goods during a specified future
period at a price fixed thereby or to be fixed in the manner thereby agreed and in
which the names of both the buyer and the seller are mentioned:
(n) transferable specific delivery contract means specific delivery contract
which is not a non-transferable specific delivery contract
[5]
CHAPTER II
Forward Markets Commission
3. Establishment and constitution of the Forward Markets Commission.-(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, establish a
Commission to be called the Forward Markets Commission for the purpose of
exercising such functions and discharging such duties as may be assigned to the
Commission by or under this Act.
[6]
(2) The Commission shall consist of not less than two,
[but not exceeding four]
[7]
members appointed by the Central Government
[one of them being nominated by
the Central Government to be the Chairman thereof; and the Chairman and the
other member or members shall be either whole-time or part- time as the Central
Government may direct]:
[8]
years from the date of his appointment, and a member relinquishing his office on the
expiry of his term shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(5) The other terms and conditions of service of members of the Commission shall
be such as may be prescribed.
4.
be
(a)
to advise the Central Government in respect of the recognition of or the
withdrawal of recognition from any association or in respect of any other matter
arising out of the administration of this Act;
[9]
(b)
to keep forward markets under observation and to take such action in
relation to them as it may consider necessary, in exercise of the powers assigned to
it by or under this Act;]
(c)
to collect and whenever the Commission thinks it necessary publish
information regarding the trading conditions in respect of goods to which any of the
provisions of this Act is made applicable, including information regarding supply,
demand and prices, and to submit to the Central Government periodical reports on
the operation of this Act and on the working of forward markets relating to such
goods;
(d)
to make recommendations generally with a view to improving the
organisation and working of forward markets;
(e)
[10]
to perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be
[4 A
(1) The Commission shall, in the performance of its functions, have all the powers of
a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit
in respect of the following matters, namely:
(a) Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him
on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any office;
(e)
(2)
The Commission shall have the power to require any person, subject to any
privilege which may be claimed by that person under any law for the time being in
force, to furnish information on such points or matters as in the opinion of the
Commission may be useful for, or relevant to any matter under the consideration of
the Commission and any person so required shall be deemed to be legally bound to
furnish such information within the meaning of Sec. 176 of the Indian Penal code,
1860 (45 of 1860).
(3)
The Commission shall be deemed to be a civil court and when any offence
described in Sections. 175, 178, 179, 180 or Sec. 228 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860 (45 of 1860), is committed in the view or presence of the Commission, the
Commission may, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the
statement of the accused as provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5
[11]
of 1898)
forward the case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same
and the Magistrate to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to hear the
complaint against the accused as if the case had been forwarded to him under
[12]
Section 482 of the said Code
.
(4)
proceeding within the meaning of Sections. 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860 (45 of 1860).
Explanation.- For the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses, the local
limits of the Commissions jurisdiction shall be the limits of the territory of India.]
CHAPTER III
Recognised Associations
5.
(1) Any association concerned with the regulation and control of forward contracts
which is desirous of being recognised for the purposes of this Act may make an
application in the prescribed manner to the Central Government.
(2) Every application made under sub-section (1) shall contain such particulars as
may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by a copy of the bye-laws for the
regulation and control of forward contracts and also a copy of the rules relating in
general to the constitution of the association, and, in particular to-(a) the governing body of such association, its constitution and powers of
management and the manner in which its business is to be transacted;
(b) the powers and duties of the office-bearers of the association;
(c) the admission into the association of various class of members, the
qualifications of members, and the exclusion, suspension, expulsion and readmission of members therefrom or therein to;
(d) the procedure for registration of partnerships as members of the association
and the nomination and appointment of authorised representatives and clerks.
6
(1) If the Central Government, after making such inquiry as may be necessary in
this behalf and after obtaining such further information, if any, as it may require, is
satisfied that it would be in the interest of the trade and also in the public interest to
grant recognition to the association which has made an application under Sec. 5, it
may grant recognition to the association in such form and subject to such conditions
as may be prescribed or specified, and shall specify in such recognition the goods or
classes of goods with respect to which forward contracts may be entered into
between members of such association or through or with any such member.
(2) Before granting recognition under sub-section (1), the Central Government may,
by order, direct, (a) that there shall be no limitation on the number of members of the association
or that there shall be such limitation on the number of members as may be
specified;
(b) that the association shall provide for the appointment by the Central
Government of a person, whether a member of the association or not as
representative on, and of not more than three persons representing interests not
directly represented through membership of the association as member or
members of the governing body of such association and may require the
association to incorporate in its rules any such direction and the conditions, if any,
accompanying it.
(3) No rules of a recognised association shall be amended except with the approval
of the Central Government.
(4) Every grant of recognition under this section shall be published in the Gazette
of India and also in the Gazette of the State in which the principal office of the
recognised association is situated, and such recognition shall have effect as from the
date of its publication in the Gazette of India.
7. Withdrawal of recognition. -- If the Central Government is of opinion that any
recognition granted to an association under the provisions of this Act should, in the
interest of the trade or in the public interest, be withdrawn, the Central Government
may, after giving a reasonable opportunity to the association to be heard in the
matter, withdraw, by notification in the official Gazette, the recognition granted to
the said association:
Provided that no such withdrawal shall effect the validity of any contract entered into
or made before the date of the notification, and the Central Government may make
such provision as it deems fit in the notification of withdrawal or in any subsequent
notification similarly published for the due performance of any contract outstanding
on that date.
8.
[(1)
furnish to the Central Government such periodical returns relating to its affairs of its
members, or his affairs, as the case may be, as may be prescribed.
(2)
Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1) where
the Central Government considers it expedient so to do, it may by order in writing,
--[14]
(a) call upon a recognised association to
[or a member thereof] furnish in
writing such information or explanation relating to its affairs or the affairs of any
[15]
of its members
[or his affairs, as the case may be] as the Central
Government may require, or
(b) appoint one or more persons to make an enquiry in relation to the affairs of
such association or the affairs or any of its members and submit a report of the
result of such inquiry to the Central Government within such time as may be
specified in the order or, in the alternative, direct the inquiry to be made, and the
report to be submitted, by the governing body of such association acting jointly
with one or more representative of the Central Government; and
(c) direct the Commission to inspect the accounts and other documents of any
recognised association or of any of its members and submit its report thereon to
the Central Government.
(3) Where an inquiry in relation to the affairs of a recognised association or the
affairs of any of its members has been undertaken under sub-section (2) -
every other person or body of persons who has had dealings in the course of
business with any of the persons mentioned in clause (a), (b) and (c),
shall be bound to produce before the authority making the inquiry, all such books,
accounts, correspondence and other documents in his custody or power relating
to, or having a bearing on the subject matter of, such inquiry and also to furnish
the authority with any such statement or information relating thereto as may be
required of him, within such time as may be specified.
[16]
[(4)
Every recognised association and every member thereof shall
maintain such books of accounts and other documents as the Commission may
specify and the books of account and other documents so specified shall be
preserved for a period not exceeding three years as the Commission may specify and
shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable times by the Commission.]
9.
Furnishing of annual reports to the Commission by recognised
association. -[17]
[(1)
Every recognised association shall furnish to the Commission three
copies of its annual report.]
(2) Such annual report shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.
[18]
[9 A
grouping of members, restricting voting rights, etc in special cases. -(1) A recognised association may make rules or amend any rules made by it to
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:
[19]
[20]
(iii) by election by all the members of the association from among person
chosen by the members belonging to the group concerned for the purposes;
[21]
[(c)] the restriction of voting rights in respect of any matter placed before
the association at any meeting to those members only who, by reason of their
functional or local interests, are actually interested in such matter;
[22]
[(d)]
the regulation of voting rights in respect of any matter placed before
the association at any meeting so that each member may, be entitled to have one
vote only, irrespective of his share of the paid up equity capital of the association;]
[23]
[ (e)]
[(f)]
such number or proportion of their total number as may be specified in the rules;
[25]
[(g)]
[27]
referred to in
[Clause (a) to (g) of] sub-section (1) shall have effect until they
have been approved by the Commission and published by that Government in the
official Gazette and, in approving the rules so made or amended, the Commission
may make such modification therein as it thinks fit, and on such publication, the
rules approved by the Commission shall be deemed to have been validly made,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956.
(3) Where, before the commencement of the Forward Contracts (Regulation)
Amendment Act, 1957(32 of 1957), any rules have been made or amended in
relation to any matter referred to in
[28]
(1), the rules so made or amended shall not be deemed to be invalid or ever to have
been invalid merely by reason of the fact that the rules so made or amended are
repugnant to any of the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.]
10 Power of Central Government to direct rules to be made or to make
rules.
(1)
Whenever the Central Government considers it expedient so to do, it
may, by order in writing, direct any recognised association to make any rules or to
amend any rules made by the recognised association within such period as it may
specify in this behalf.
(2) If any recognised association, against whom an order is issued by the Central
Government under sub-section (1), fails or neglects to comply with such order within
the specified period, the Central Government may make the rules or amend the rules
made by the recognised association, as the case may be, either in the form specified
in the order or with such modification thereof as the Central Government may think
fit.
[29]
[(3)
Where, in pursuance of sub-section (2), any rules have been made
or amended, the rule so made or amended shall be published in the Gazette of India,
and shall, thereupon, have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or any other law for the time being in force,
as if they had been made or amended by the recognised association concerned.]
11
(1) Any recognised association may, subject to the previous approval of the Central
Government, make bye-laws for the regulation and control of forward contracts.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,
such bye-laws may provide for ---(a)
the opening and closing of markets and the regulation of the hours of
trade;
(b)
a clearing-house for the periodical settlement of contracts and differences
thereunder, the delivery of, and payment for, goods, the passing on of delivery
orders and for the regulation and maintainance of such clearing house;
(c)
the number and classes of contracts in respect of which settlements shall
be made or differences paid through the clearing house;
(d)
(e)
determining and declaring market rates; including opening, closing,
highest and lowest rates for goods;
(f)
the terms, conditions and incidents of contracts including the prescription
of margin requirements, if any, and conditions relating thereto, and the forms of
contract in writing;
(g)
regulating the entering into, making performances, rescission and
termination of contracts, including contracts between members or between a
commission agent and his constituent, or between a broker and his constituent, or
between a member of the recognised association and a person who is not a
member, and the consequences of default or insolvency on the part of a seller or
buyer or intermediary, the consequences of a breach or omission by a seller or
buyer and the responsibility of commission agents and brokers who are not
parties to such contracts;
(h)
(i)
the method and procedure for the settlement of claims or disputes
including the settlement thereof by arbitration;
(j)
(k)
the regulation of the course of business between parties to contracts in
any capacity;
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
the emergencies in trade which may arise and the exercise of powers in
such emergencies including the power to fix maximum and minimum prices;
(p)
(q)
(r)
the obligation of members to supply such information or explanation and
to produce such books relating to their business as the governing body may
require.
(3) The bye-laws made under this section may (a)
specify the bye-laws the contravention of any of which shall make a
contract entered into otherwise than in accordance with the bye-laws void under
sub-section (2) of Section 15;
[30]
[(aa)
specify the bye-laws the contravention of any of which shall make
a forward contract entered into otherwise than in accordance with bye-laws illegal
under sub-section (3 A) of Section 15;]
(b)
(i)
(ii) render the member concerned liable to expulsion or suspension from the
recognised association or to any penalty of a like nature not involving the
payment of money.
(4) Any bye-laws made under this section shall be subject to such conditions in
regard to previous publication as may be prescribed and when approved by the
Central Government, shall be published in the Gazette of India
[31]
[* * * ];
Provided that the Central Government may, in the interest of the trade or in the
public interest, by order in writing, dispense with the condition of previous
publication in any case.
12 Power of Central Government to make, or amend bye-laws of
recognised association.
(1) The Central Government may, either on a request in writing received by it in this
behalf from the governing body of a recognised association, or if in its opinion it is
expedient so to do, make bye-laws for all or any of the matters specified in Section
11 or amend any bye-laws made by such association under that section.
(2) Where, in pursuance of this section, any bye-laws have been made or
amended, the bye-laws so made or amended shall be published in the Gazette of
[32]
India,
[and shall thereupon have effect] as if they had been made or amended
by the recognised association.
(3)
(4) The making or the amendment or revision of any bye-laws under this section
[33]
shall in cases be
[subject to such conditions in regard to previous publication as
may be prescribed]:
Provided that the Central Government may, in the interest of the trade or in the
public interest, by order in writing dispense with the condition of previous publication.
[34]
[12 A
association shall affect the validity of any forward contract entered into or made by
with or through such member on or before the date of such order and remaining to
be performed on or after the said date; but the Commission may make such
provision as it deems fit in such order or in any subsequent order for the closing out
of any such forward contract.]
13 Power of Central Government to supercede governing body of
recognised association.-(1)
under this Act, where the Central Government is of opinion that the governing body
of any recognised association should be superceded, then, notwithstanding anything
contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the Central
Government may, after giving a reasonable opportunity to the governing body of the
recognised association concerned to show cause why it should not be superseded, by
notification in the official Gazette, declare the governing body of such association to
be superseded for such period not exceeding six months as may be specified in the
notification, and may appoint any person or persons to exercise and perform all the
powers and duties of the governing body, and where more persons than one are
appointed may appoint one of such persons to be Chairman and another of such
person to be the Vice-Chairman.
(2) On the publication of a notification in the official Gazette under sub-section (1),
the following consequences shall ensue, namely:
(a)
the members of the governing body which has been superseded shall, as
from the date of the notification of supersession, cease to hold office as such
members;
(b)
the person or persons appointed under sub-section (1) may exercise and
perform all the powers and duties of the governing body which has been
superseded;
(c)
all such property of the recognised association as the person or persons
appointed under sub-section (1) may, by order in writing, specify in this behalf as
being necessary for the purpose of enabling him or them to carry out the purpose
of this Act, shall vest in such person or persons.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law or the
rules or bye-laws of the association whose governing body is superseded under subsection (1), the person or persons appointed under that sub-section shall hold office
for such period as may be specified in the notification published under that subsection, and the Central Government may, from time to time by like notification,
vary such period.
(4) On the determination of the period of office of any person or persons appointed
under this section the recognised association shall forthwith reconstitute a governing
body in accordance with its rules:
Provided that until a governing body is so reconstituted, the person or persons
appointed under sub-section (1) shall not withstanding anything contained in subsection (1) continue to exercise and perform their powers and duties.
(5) On the reconstitution of a governing body under sub-section (4), all the
property of the recognised association which had vested in, or was in the possession
of, the person or persons appointed under sub-section (1) shall vest or revest, as the
case may be, in the governing body so reconstituted.
14
If in the interest of the trade or in the public interest the Central Government
considers it expedient so to do, it may by notification in the official Gazette, direct a
recognised association to suspend such of its business for such period not exceeding
seven days and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification,
and may if, in the opinion of the Central Government, the interest of the trade or the
public interest so requires by like notification extend the said period from time to
time.
Provided that where the period of suspension is likely to exceed one month, no
notification extending the suspension beyond such period shall be issued, unless the
governing body of the recognised association has been given an opportunity of being
heard in the matter.
[35]
[CHAPTER
III-A
Registered Associations
14A Certificate of registration to be obtained by all associations.--(1) No association concerned with the regulation and control of business relating to
forward contracts shall after the commencement of the Forward Contracts
(Regulation) Amendment Act, 1960 (62 of 1960) (hereinafter referred to as such
commencement), carry on such business except under, and in accordance with, the
conditions of a certificate of registration granted under this Act by the Commission.
(2) Every association referred to in sub-section (1) which is in existence at such
commencement, before the expiry of six months from such commencement, and
every association referred to in sub-section (1) which is not in existence at such
commencement, before commencing such business, shall make an application for a
certificate of registration to the Commission in such form and containing such
particulars as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Commission may in its discretion extend from time to time the
period of six months aforesaid up to one year in the aggregate.
(3)
(a)
to prohibit an association in existence at such commencement from
carrying on its business until the disposal of the application made by it under subsection (2); or
(b)
to require a recognised association in existence at such commencement to
make an application under sub-section (2); and every such association shall, as
soon as may be after such commencement, be granted free of cost by the
Commission a certificate of registration.
14-B Grant or refusal of certificate of registration. --On receipt of an application under Section 14-A the Commission, after making such
enquiry as it considers necessary in this behalf, may by order in writing grant a
certificate of registration or refuse to grant it:
Provided that before refusing to grant such certificate, the association shall be given
an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
14-C Application of Sections 8 and 12-B to registered associations.-The provisions of Sections 8 and 12 B shall apply in relation to a registered
association as they apply in relation to a recognised association with the substitution
of --(i)
references to the registered association, for references to the recognised
association; and
(ii) the words two years, for the words three years in sub-section (2) of
Section 12-B.]
CHAPTER IV
(i)
as respects the rights of any member of the recognised association who
has entered into such contract in contravention of any such bye-law and also,
(ii)
as respects the rights of any other person who has knowingly participated
in the transaction entailing such contravention.
(3)
Nothing in sub-section (2) shall effect the right of any person other than
a member of the recognised association to enforce any such contract or to recover
any sum under or in respect of such contract:
Provided that such person had no knowledge that such transaction was in
contravention of any of the bye-laws specified under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of
Section 11.
[36]
[(3A) Any forward contract in goods entered into in pursuance of sub-section (1)
which at the date of the contract is in contravention of any of the bye-laws specified
in this behalf under clause (aa) of sub-section 3 of Section 11 shall be illegal.]
(4) No member of a recognised association shall, in respect of any goods specified
in the notification under sub-section (1), enter into any contract on his own account
with any person other than a member of the recognised association unless he has
secured the consent or authority of such person and disclose in the note,
memorandum or agreement of sale or purchase that he has bought or sold the
goods, as the case may be, on his own account:
Provided that where the member has secured the consent or authority of such
person otherwise than in writing he shall secure a written confirmation by such
person of such consent or authority within three days from the date of such contract:
Provided further that in respect of any outstanding contract entered into by a
member with a person other than a member of the recognised association, no
consent or authority of such person shall be necessary for closing out in accordance
with the bye-laws for outstanding contract, if the member discloses in the note,
memorandum or agreement of sale or purchase in respect of such closing out that
he has bought or sold the goods, as the case may be, on his own account.
16
Where a notification has been issued under Section 15, then notwithstanding
anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any custom,
usage or practice of the trade or the terms of any contract or the bye-laws of any
association concerned relating to any contract-(a)
every forward contract for the sale or purchase of any goods specified in
[37]
the notification,
[entered into on or before the date of the notification] and
remaining to be performed after the said date and which is not in conformity with
the provisions of Section 15, shall be deemed to be closed out at such rate as the
Central Government may fix in this behalf and different rates may be fixed for
different classes of such contracts:
(b)
all differences arising out of any contract so deemed to be closed out shall
be payable on the basis of the rate fixed under clause (a) and the seller shall not
be bound to give and the buyer shall not be bound to take delivery of the goods.
17. Power to prohibit forward contracts in certain cases.--(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that
no person shall save with the permission of the Central Government, enter into any
forward contract for the sale or purchase of any goods or class of goods specified in
the notification and to which provisions of Section 15 have not been made
applicable, except to the extent and in the manner, if any, as may be specified in the
notification.
(2) All forward contracts in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1)
entered into after the date of publication of the notification thereunder shall be
illegal.
(3) Where a notification has been issued under sub-section (1), the provisions of
Section 16 shall in the absence of anything to the contrary in the notification, apply
to all forward contracts for the sale or purchase of any goods specified in the
notification
[38]
[entered into on or before the date of notification] and remaining to
be performed after the said date as they apply to all forward contract for the sale or
purchase or any goods specified in the notification under Section 15.
18
(1)
Nothing contained in Chapter III or Chapter IV shall apply to nontransferrable specific delivery contracts for the sale or purchase of any goods:
Provided that no person shall organise or assist in organising or be a member of any
association in any area to which the provisions of Sec. 15 have been made applicable
(other than a recognised association) which provides facilities for the performance of
any non-transferable specific delivery contract by any party thereto without having
to make or receive actual delivery to or from the other party to the contract or to or
from any other party named in the contract.
(2) Where in respect of any area the provisions of Section 15 have been made
applicable in relation to forward contracts for the sale or purchase of any goods or
class of goods, the Central Government may, by a like notification, declare that in
the said area or any part thereof as may be specified in the notification all or any of
the provisions of Chapter III or Chapter IV shall not apply to transferable specific
delivery contracts for the sale or purchase of the said goods or class of goods either
generally, or to any class of such contracts in particular.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if the Central
Government is of opinion that in the interest of the trade or in the public interest it is
expedient to regulate and control non-transferable specific delivery contracts in any
area, it may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that all or any of the
provisions of Chapters III and IV shall apply to such class or classes of nontransferable specific delivery contracts in such area in respect of such goods or class
of goods as may be specified in the notification, and may also specify the manner in
which and the extent to which all or any of the said provisions shall so apply.
19
(1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the
time being in force, all options in goods entered into after the date on which this
section comes into force shall be illegal.
(2) Any option in goods which has been entered into before the date on which this
section comes into force and which remains to be performed, whether wholly or in
part, after the said date shall, to that extent become void.
CHAPTER V
[20
which a certificate of registration has not been granted under this Act; or
(c)
publishes or circulates information relating to the rate at which any forward
contract has been entered into in contravention of any of the bye-laws of a
recognised organisation, or
(d)
organises or assists in organising, or is a member of any association in
contravention of the provisions contained in the proviso to sub-section (1) of
Section 18; or
(e)
for a first offence, with imprisonment which may extend to one year or
with a fine of not less than one thousand rupees, or with both;
(ii)
for a second or subsequent offence under clause (d), or under clause (e)
[other than an offence in respect of contravention of the provisions of sub-section
(4) of Section 15] with imprisonment which may extend to one year and also
with fine; provided that in the absence of special and adequate reasons to the
contrary to be mentioned in the judgement of the Court, the imprisonment shall
be not less than one month and the fine shall not be less than one thousand
rupees.]
21
Penalty for owning or keeping place used for entering into
forward contracts in goods.-Any person who -(a)
owns or keeps a place other than of a recognised association which is used
for the purpose of entering into or making or performing, whether wholly or in
part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act
and knowingly permits such place to be used for such purposes, or
(b)
without the permission of the Central Government organises, or assists in
organising, or becomes a member of any association, other than a recognised
association, for the purpose of assisting in entering into or making or performing,
whether wholly or in part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the
provisions of this Act, or
(c)
manages, controls or assists in keeping any place other than that of a
recognised association, which is used for the purpose of entering into or making or
performing, whether wholly or in part, any forward contract in
contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or at which such contracts are
recorded or adjusted, or rights or liabilities arising out of such forward contracts
are adjusted, regulated or enforced in any manner whatsoever, or
(d)
not being a member of a recognised association, wilfully represents to, or
induces, any person to believe that he is a member of a recognised association or
that forward contracts can be entered into or made or performed, whether wholly
or in part, under this Act through him,
(e)
not being a member of a recognised association or his agent authorised as
such under the rules or bye-laws of such association, canvasses, advertises or
touts in any manner, either for himself or on behalf of any other person, for any
business connected with forward contracts in contravention of any of the
provisions of this Act, or
(f)
joins, gathers, or assists in gathering at any place, other than the place
[(h)
manipulates or attempts to manipulate prices in respect of forward
contracts for the sale or purchase of any goods specified in any notification under
Section 15, in any area specified in that notification,]
[42]
(i) for a first offence, with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with a
fine of not less than one thousand rupees, or with both;
(ii)
to two years and also with fine: provided that in the absence of special and
adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in the judgment of the Court,
the imprisonment shall not be less than one month and the fine shall not be less
[21A
Offences by companies.--
(1) Where an offence has been committed by a company, every person who at the
time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the
company for the conduct of, the business of the company, as well as the company,
shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded
against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person
liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was
committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent
the commission of such offence.
(2)
Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence
under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence
has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any
gross negligence on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of
the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be
deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly.
Explanation.-For the purpose of this Section (a)
company means any body corporate and includes a firm or other
association of individuals; and
(b)
[44]
[22A.
documents.---
(1) Any presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class may, by warrant,
authorise any police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector to enter upon and
search any place where books of account or other documents relating to forward
contracts or options in goods entered into in contravention of the provisions of this
Act, may be reasonably suspected to be, and such police officer may seize any such
books or documents, if in his opinion, it relates to any such forward contract or
option in goods.
[45]
(2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)
, shall so
far as may be, apply to search or seizure made under sub-section (1) as they apply
to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under Section
98 of the said Code.
22-B.
(1) Where any books of account or documents are seized from any place and there
are entries therein making reference to quantity, quotations, rates, months of
delivery, receipt or payment of differences or sale or purchase of goods or options in
goods, such books of accounts or other documents shall be admitted in evidence
without witnesses having to appear to prove the same; and such entries shall be
prima-facie evidence of matters, transactions and accounts purported to be therein
recorded.
(2) In any trial for an offence punishable under Section 21, it shall be presumed,
until the contrary is proved that the place in which the books of account or other
documents referred to in sub-section (1) were seized, was used, and that the
persons found therein were present, for the purpose of the said offence.
23. Certain offences to be cognizable.---
[46]
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
[the
following offences shall be deemed to be cognizable within the meaning of that Code,
namely:
(a) an offence falling under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of Section 20 in so far as it
relates to the failure to comply with any requisition made under sub-section (3) of
Section 8;
(b) an offence falling under clause (d) of Section 20;
(c) an offence falling under clause (e) of Section 20 other than a contravention of
the provisions of sub-section (3-A) or sub-section (4) of Section 15;
(d) an offence falling under Section 21.]
24
CHAPTER VI
Miscellaneous
25.
Government in relation to any matter concerning the operation of this Act, the
Central Government may establish an advisory committee consisting of such number
of persons as may be prescribed.
26. Power to delegate.-- The Central Government may, by notification in the
official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Act may, in such
circumstances and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified be
exercised by such officers or authority, including any State Government or officers or
[27 A
(1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie in any Court against the Central
Government or any member, officer or servant of the Commission for anything which
is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act, or any rule or bye-law
made thereunder.
(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie in any Court against the governing
body or any member, office-bearer or servant of any recognised association or
against any person appointed under sub-section (1) of Section 13 for anything which
is in good faith done or intended to be done with the approval, at the instance, of the
Commission and in pursuance of this Act, or of any rule or bye-law made
thereunder.]
28. Power to make rules.-(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules
for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,
such rules may provide for,-(a)
(b)
the manner in which applications for recognition may be made under
Section 5 and levy of fees in respect thereof;
(c)
the manner in which any inquiry for the purpose of recognising any
association may be made and the form in which recognition shall be granted;
[48]
[(cc)
the manner in which the application for certificates of registration
may be made under Section 14A and the levy of fees in respect of such
application;]
(d)
associations;
(e)
Act shall, before being so made, amended or revised, be published for criticism;
(f)
the constitution of the advisory committee established under Section 25,
the terms of office of and the manner of filling vacancies among members of the
committee; the interval within which meetings of the advisory committee may be
held and the procedure to be followed at such meetings; and the matters which
may be referred by the Central Government to the advisory committee for advice;
(g)
[49]
[(3)
Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total
period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more
successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following
the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any
modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the
rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the
case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]
29
If immediately before the date on which this Act or any provision contained therein is
made applicable to any goods or classes of goods in any State, there is in force in
that State, any law corresponding to this Act or, as the case may be, to any
provision contained therein which is applicable to those goods or classes of goods,
that law shall stand repealed on the said date.
The words except the State of Jammu & Kashmir omitted by Act 62 0f
1960, Section 2 (w.e.f. 28.12.60).
[2]
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Relettered
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