The Assam Jute (Control of Prices) Act, 1950
[Published in the “Assam Gazette”, dated the 19th April **1950]**

**An Act to provide for the Control of the price of JuO**

Whereas it is necessary to provide tor the control of the price of jute in **the**

manner hereinafter appearing :

It is hereby enacted as follows

**1.** **Short title, extent and commencement—(1)** This Act may **be called the**

Assam Jute (Control of Prices) Act, 1950.

(2) It extends to the whole of Assam.
(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. **Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the sub­**

ject or context,—

(a) “jute” means the fibre of any plant belonging to any species of the

_genus Corchorus and commonly called par,_ _kosta natia ;_

       - or Rules _see Notification No.RSB.2/50/42, dated_ [1] 30th October 1950.

*For Statement of Objects and Reasons _see “ Assam Gazette”, 1950, Part_ **V,**

pages 67-68.


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(b) “pucca bale” means a package containing any jute or jute **cuttings**

(together with any waste product or moisture, if any) pressed by any
hydraulic or any power-driven machinery and commonly known in
the jute trade as a pucca bale ;

(c) “raw jute” means jute which has not been subjected to any process

of spinning or weaving and includes jute or jute cuttings, whether loose
or packed in bales or drums and whether or not containing any waste
product or moisture ;

(d) “surplus raw jute” means raw jute in the possession or control of any

person in excess of the quantity for which he holds for the time

being a valid export license under the Imports and Exports (Control)
Act. 1947 (Act XV III of 1947);

(e) “waste product” means strippings, odd filaments or fragments, drop- .

pings, sweepings, or other waste product of jute and includes also
articles commonly known in the jute trade as _hiji biji._

3. **Maximum prices.—(1)** The State Government may by notification in

the Official Gazette fix the maximum prices which may be charged for pucca
bales or for surplus raw jute .(not being pucca bales).

(2) Different maximum prices may be fixed under sub-sectioa **(1)** for ;

pucca bales or surplus raw jute (not being pucca bales), according to the quality,
variety or trade description of the jute or jute cuttings contained in such pucca
bales or according to the quality, variety or trade description of such surplus
raw jute.

4. **Sale and purchase to be at prices not exceeding maximum.—No person**

shall sell or agree to sell or offer to sell and no person shall buy or agree to buy
or offer to buy any pucca bales or any surplus raw jute (not being pucca bales)
or any portion of any surplus raw jute at a price exceeding the maximum price
fixed therefor under section 3.

5. **Power of State Government to issue directions in respect of surplus raw**

**jute.—The State Government may by order in writing direct any person having**
any surplus raw jute in his possession or control to sell such surplus raw jute
or any portion thereof to any specified person or persons at a price not exceeding
the maximum price fixed therefor under section 3 and the person so directed :

shall comply with the order.

6. **Power to require information, etc.—The** State **Government or any officer**

authorised in this behalf by the State Government may. with a view to **securing**
compliance **with** this Act,—

(a) require any person to give any information in his possession with res- ;

pect to any business in jute carried on by that or any other person; |

(b) inspect or cause to be inspected any books or other documents belong- '

ing to or under the control of any person relating to any business ■

in ju te ;

(c) enter and search, or authorise any person to enter and-search, any

premises, and seize, or authorise any person to seize, any pucca bales
or surplus raw jute in respect, of which he has reason to believe that
a contravention of this Act has been committed.

7. **Evasion.—No person shall, with intent to evade anv provision of this**

**Act,** refuse to give any information lawfully demanded from him under section 6,

or conceal, destroy, mutilate or deface any book or document.


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**8. " Penalties.—Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or**

of any **order** made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment **for a** term
which may extend to three years or with line or with both.

9. **Offences** by corporations, etc.—Where a person committing an offence

punishable under this Act is a company or an association or a body of persons
whether incorporated or not, every Director, Manager, Secretary or other Officer
or person concerned in the management thereof shall, unless he proves that the
offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due dili­
gence to prevent its commission, be deemed to be guilty of such offence.

10. **Repeal awl Savings.—(Ij Ih e Assam Jute** (Control of Prices) Ordi­

**nance,** 195Q (Assam Ordinance No.l of 1950), is hereby repealed.


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