The Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948
# THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS                           
 (OATHS AND FEES) ACT, 1948
 _________

 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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 SECTIONS

1. Short title.
2. Definitions.
3. Powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad.
4. Punishment for offences under this Act.
5. Trial of offences.
6. Power to prescribe fees.
7. Publication and issue of tables of fees.
8. Power to make rules.


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# THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS                           
 (OATHS AND FEES) ACT, 1948
 ACT NO. 41 OF 1948[1]

[3rd September, 1948.]

# An Act to provide for the administration of oaths by diplomatic and consular officers and to
 prescribe the fees leviable in respect of certain of their official duties.

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the administration of oaths by diplomatic and consular

officers and for the levy of fees in respect of certain official duties performed by them;

It is hereby enacted as follows:—

**1. Short title.—This Act may be called the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees)**

Act, 1948.

**2. Definitions.—In this Act,—**

(a) “consular officer” includes consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent, pro-consul

and any other person authorised to perform the duties of consul-general, consul, vice-consul or
consular agent;

(b) “diplomatic officer” means any ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d’affaires, or secretary

of embassy or legation; and

(c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

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**3. Powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad.—(1) Every diplomatic or consular officer may, in**

any foreign country or place where he is exercising his functions, administer any oath and take any
affidavit and also do any notarial act which any notary public may do within [3][a State]; and every oath,
affidavit and notarial act administered, sworn or done by or before any such person shall be as effectual
as if duly administered, sworn or done by or before any lawful authority in [4][a State].

(2) Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed or subscribed thereon or thereto the seal and

signature of any person authorised by this Act to administer an oath in testimony of any oath, affidavit or
act, being administered, taken or done by or before him, shall be admitted in evidence without proof of
the seal or signature being the seal or signature of that person, or of the official character of that person.

**4. Punishment for offences under this Act.—(1) Whoever swears falsely in any oath or affidavit**

taken or made in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

(2) Whoever forges or fraudulently alters the seal or signature of any person authorised by or under

this Act to administer an oath or tenders in evidence, or otherwise uses, any affidavit having any seal or
signature so forged or counterfeited or fraudulently altered knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited
or fraudulently altered, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years
and shall also be liable to fine.

**5. Trial of offences.—Any offence under this Act may be inquired into, dealt with, tried and**

punished in [5][any [6][State]] in which the person charged with the offence was apprehended or is in
custody, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the offence had been committed within the State
where he was apprehended or is in custody.

1. Extended to Union territory of Pondicherry by Act 26 of 1968, s. 3 and the Schedule.
2. Omitted by Act 2 of 1973, s. 2.
3. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956.
4. Subs., ibid., for “any Part A State”.
5. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “any Province of India”.
6. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956, for “Part A or Part C State”.

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**6. Power to prescribe fees.—(1) The Central Government may, from time to time, prescribe the fees**

to be levied in respect of any matter or thing done by a diplomatic or consular officer in the execution of
his office.

(2) All such fees shall be levied, accounted for and applied and may be remitted in such manner as

may be prescribed.

(3) A diplomatic or consular officer shall not, save as may be provided by any rules made in this

behalf, ask for or take any fee or reward for or on account of any act or thing, or service done, performed
or rendered by him in the execution of his office.

**7. Publication and issue of tables of fees.—(1) Tables of the fees which may, for the time being, be**

levied under the rules shall be published in such manner and copies thereof shall be issued gratuitously to
such persons as may be prescribed.

(2) Every consular officer, and every diplomatic officer in any: foreign country or place where there

is no consular officer, shall keep exhibited in a conspicuous place in his office a copy of the table of fees
to be levied under this Act and shall permit the same to be inspected by any person interested therein.

**8. Power to make rules.—(1) The Central Government may** [1][, by notification in the Official

Gazette,] make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may

prescribe—

(a) the scale of fees leviable under this Act and the manner in which such fees shall be levied and

collected;

(b) the remuneration, if any, payable to a diplomatic or consular officer in the execution of any of

the duties vested in him by this Act;

(c) the registers to be kept and the returns to be made in pursuance of this Act; and

(d) the manner in which copies of tables of fees may be published and distributed.

2[(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.]

1. Ins. by Act 4 of 1986, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 15-5-1986).
2. Ins. by Act 2 of 1973, s. 3.

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