Major Port Authorities Act, 2021

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 18th February, 2021/Magha 29, 1942 (Saka)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 17th February, 2021, and is hereby published for general information:—

THE MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES ACT, 2021
NO. 1 OF 2021

[17th February, 2021.]

An Act to provide for regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India and to vest the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-Second Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, commencement and application.

(1) This Act may be called the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, in the Official Gazette, appoint.

(3) It shall apply to the Major Ports of Chennai, Cochin, Deendayal (Kandla), Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva), Kolkata, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) and Visakhapatnam.
Short title, commencement and application.

2. Definitions.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,––

(a) “Adjudicatory Board” means the Board constituted by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 54;

(b) “Board” means the Board of Major Port Authority constituted by the Central Government in accordance with sub-section (1) of section 3 for each Major Port under this Act;

(c) “capital reserves” for the purpose of this Act, shall mean the total of the reserves excluding the reserves set forth in sub-section (1) of section 43 and the value of the current assets of the Board in the preceding financial year;

(d) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4;

(e) “Deputy Chairperson” means the Deputy Chairperson of the Board appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4;

(f) “dock” includes all basins, locks, cuts, entrances, graving docks, graving blocks, inclined planes, slipways, gridirons, moorings, transit-sheds, warehouses, tramways, railways and other works and things appertaining to any dock, and also the portion of the sea enclosed or protected by the arms or groynes of a harbour;

(g) “foreshore”, in relation to a Major Port, means the area between the high-water mark and the low-water mark relating to that Major Port;

(h) “goods” includes livestock and every kind of movable property;

(i) “grave emergency” means a condition as determined by the Central Government wherein the Board is unable to discharge its duties appropriately and includes acts of sedition, non-performance, unlawful and illegal actions, negligence and financial misappropriation;

(j) “high-water mark”, in relation to a Major Port, means a line drawn through the highest points reached by ordinary spring-tides at any season of the year at that Major Port;

(k) “immovable property” includes wharfage-rights and all other rights exercisable on, over, or in respect of, any land, wharf, dock or pier;

(l) “Independent Member” means a Member of the Board appointed under sub-section (2) of section 4;

(m) “Indian Ports Act” means the Indian Ports Act, 1908;

(n) “land” includes the bed of the sea or river below high-water mark, and also things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth;

(o) “low-water mark”, in relation to a Major Port, means a line drawn through the lowest points reached by ordinary spring-tides at any season of the year at that Major Port;

(p) “Major Port” or “Major Port Authority” means the Major Port as defined in clause (8) of section 3 of the Indian Ports Act;

(q) “Major Port approaches”, in relation to a Major Port, means those parts of the navigable rivers and channels leading to the Major Port, where the Indian Ports Act is in force;

(r) “master”, in relation to any vessel or any aircraft making use of any Major Port, means any person having for the time being the charge or control of such vessel or such aircraft, as the case may be, except a pilot, harbour master, assistant harbour master, dock master or berthing master of the Major Port;

(s) “Member” means the Member of the Board appointed under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 4;

(t) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notify”and ‘‘notified’’ shall be construed accordingly;

(u) “Presiding Officer” means the Presiding Officer of the Adjudicatory Board appointed by the Central Government under section 55;

(v) “owner”,––

(i) in relation to goods, includes any consignor, consignee, shipper or agent for the sale, custody, loading or unloading of such goods; and

(ii) in relation to any vessel or any aircraft making use of any Major Port, includes any part-owner, charterer, consignee, or mortgagee in possession thereof;

(w) “pier” includes any stage, stairs, landing place, hard, jetty, floating barge, transhipper or pontoon and any bridges or other works connected therewith.

Explanation.––For the purposes of this clause, the term “transhipper” means a floating craft or vessel, whether dumb or self-propelled, on which gears are provided for discharging cargo from a barge or wharf and loading it into a ship;

(x) “port assets” means any asset within the port limits including land, movable or immovable property or any other property, whether tangible or intangible, owned by or vested with the Board through the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be;

(y) “port limits” in relation to a Major Port, means the limits including any piers, jetties, landing-places, wharves, quays, docks and other works made on behalf of the public for convenience of traffic, for safety of vessels or for the improvement, maintenance or good governance of the Major Port and its approaches whether within or without high-water mark, and subject to any rights of private property therein, any portion of the shore or bank within fifty yards of high-water mark and the area of such Major Port as may be determined by the Central Government by way of notification from time to time;

(z) “port related use” means any use directly or indirectly related to port operations and activities;

(za) “port securities” means the debentures, bonds or stock certificates issued by the Board in respect of any loan contracted by it under the provisions of this Act or issued by any other Authority for the payment of which the Board is liable under this Act;

(zb) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(zc) “Public Private Partnership project” means the projects taken up through a concession contract entered into by the Board under sub-section (1) of section 24;

(zd) “rate” includes any toll, due, rent, rate, fee, or charge leviable under this Act;

(ze) “regulations” means the regulations made by the Board under this Act;

(zf) “vessel” includes anything made for the conveyance, by water, of human beings or of goods; and

(zg) “wharf” includes any wall or stage and any part of the land or foreshore that may be used for loading or unloading goods, or for the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers and any wall enclosing or adjoining the same.

(2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Indian Ports Act shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.

CHAPTER II
BOARD OF MAJOR PORT AUTHORITY

3. Constitution and composition of Board of Major Port Authority.

(1) The Central Government shall, within a period of ninety days from the date of commencement of this Act, by notification, in respect of each Major Port, constitute a Board called the Board of Major Port Authority for that Major Port which shall consist of the following Members, namely:––

(a) a Chairperson;

(b) a Deputy Chairperson;

(c) one Member each from the––

(i) concerned State Government in which the Major Port is situated;

(ii) Ministry of Railways;

(iii) Ministry of Defence; and

(iv) Customs, Department of Revenue;

(d) not less than two and not exceeding four Independent Members;

(e) one Member not below the rank of Director nominated by the Central Government, ex officio; and

(f) two Members representing the interests of the employees of the Major Port Authority:

Provided that until the constitution of the Board of Major Port Authority, the Board of Trustees constituted under section 3 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 shall continue to function and shall cease to exist immediately after the constitution of the Board under this Act.

(2) The Board of each Major Port Authority constituted under this Act shall be a permanent body having perpetual succession and a common seal with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold or dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.

4. Qualifications of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Members of Board.

(1) The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Board shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of such persons and in such manner, as may be prescribed.

(2) The Members of the Board as mentioned in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of sub-section (1) of section 3 shall possess such qualifications and experiences and shall be appointed by the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The Members referred to in clause (f) of sub-section (1) of section 3 shall be appointed by the Central Government from amongst serving employees of the Board of Major Port Authority in such manner as may be prescribed after obtaining the opinion of the trade unions, if any, composed of persons employed in the Major Port and registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926.

(4) Every person nominated or appointed to the office of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson or Member of the Board, shall, within thirty days of his nomination or appointment, furnish to the Board his consent and a declaration that he is not disqualified or ineligible or has conflict of interest to hold such office.

5. Disqualification of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Member from office in certain circumstances.

(1) A person shall not be eligible for appointment or to continue as a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member of the Board, if—

(a) he has been adjudged as an insolvent;

(b) he has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member;

(c) he has been convicted of an offence, involving moral turpitude;

(d) he holds an office of profit;

(e) he has made a false declaration under sub-section (4) of section 4;

(f) he has been removed or dismissed from the service of a Major Port Authority, Government or a body corporate owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government; or

(g) an order disqualifying him for appointment as a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member has been passed by a court or tribunal and such order is in force.

(2) The Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or any other Member shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the Central Government on the ground of his proved misbehaviour or incapacity or in contravention of the provisions of section 7 after the Central Government, has, on an inquiry, held in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this behalf by the Central Government, come to the conclusion that the Member ought on any such ground to be removed.

(3) The Central Government may suspend the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or any other Member in respect of whom an inquiry under sub-section (2) is being initiated or pending till the Central Government has passed an order on receipt of the report of the inquiry.

6. Term of office of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Members.

(1) The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson shall hold office for a term not exceeding five years from the date on which they enter upon their office or until they attain the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person appointed as a Member of the Board by virtue of an office under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 3 shall continue to be a Member of the Board so long as he continues to hold that office.

(3) An Independent Member shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment or up to the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier and shall be eligible for re-appointment:

Provided that no Independent Member shall hold office for more than two terms:

Provided further that an Independent Member shall not, during the said period of three years, be appointed to or be associated with any Major Port Authority in any other capacity, either directly or indirectly.

(4) The Member appointed under clause (f) of sub-section (1) of section 3 shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment or until he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier and shall be eligible for re-appointment:

Provided that no such Member shall hold office for more than two terms.

7. Disclosure of interest.

Before appointing any person as a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member, the Central Government shall satisfy itself that the person does not have any such financial or other interests as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member:

Provided that where the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or any Member who is not so concerned or interested at the time of occupying such office, he shall, if he becomes concerned or interested afterwards, disclose his concern or interest forthwith when he becomes so concerned or interested or at the first meeting of the Board held after he becomes so concerned or interested and resign forthwith.

8. Resignation of Members.

The Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Members may, by notice in writing under their hand addressed to the Central Government, resign their office and on such resignation being accepted by that Government, shall be deemed to have vacated their office.

9. Removal from office of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Members.

The Central Government shall remove the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or any Member, if he—

(a) becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in section 5; or

(b) has, in the opinion of the Central Government, ceased to represent the interest by virtue of which he was appointed or elected; or

(c) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; or

(d) is, without the previous permission of the Board absent from six consecutive ordinary meetings of the Board; or

(e) is absent from the meetings of the Board for a period exceeding six consecutive months; or

(f) acts in contravention of the provisions of this Act.

10. Filling of casual vacancies.

Any vacancy occurring in the office of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or any other Member whether by reason of his death, resignation or inability to discharge his functions owing to illness or other incapacity, shall be filled by the Central Government by making a fresh appointment within a period of three months from the date on which such vacancy occurs and the Member so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the person in whose place he is so appointed.

11. Honorarium payable to Independent Members.

The Independent Members shall be paid such honorarium as may be prescribed.

12. Powers and duties of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Members.

The Chairperson and in his absence, the Deputy Chairperson or such other person authorised by the Central Government shall have powers of general superintendence and directions in the conduct of affairs of the Major Port Authority and he shall, in addition to presiding over the meetings of the Board, exercise supervision and control over the acts of all employees of the Major Port Authority in matters of executive administration and in matters concerning the accounts and records of such Board.

13. Meetings of Board.

(1) The Board shall meet at such places and times, and shall follow such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including quorum at such meetings), as may be specified by the regulations.

(2) If the Chairperson for any reason, is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the Deputy Chairperson and in the absence of such Deputy Chairperson, any other Member chosen by the Members present amongst themselves at the meeting, shall preside at the meeting or any person authorised by the Central Government.

(3) All questions which come up before any meeting of the Board shall be––

(a) decided by a majority of votes by the Members present and voting, and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or in his absence, the person presiding shall have a second or casting vote;

(b) dealt with as expeditiously as possible and the Board shall dispose of the same within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of the application:

Provided that where any such application could not be disposed of within the said period of sixty days, the Board shall record its reasons in writing for not disposing of the application within that period.

14. Committees of Board.

(1) A Board may, from time to time, from amongst its Members and any other person, constitute committees for the purpose of discharging such functions as may be delegated to such committee or committees by the Board.

(2) The committee or committees constituted under this section shall meet at such time and at such places, and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including the quorum) as may be specified by the regulations made under this Act.

15. Delegation of powers.

The Board may, for the purpose of exercising and discharging its powers, functions and duties, by general or special order in writing, specify––

(a) the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon the Board by or under this Act, which may also be exercised or performed by the Chairperson; and

(b) the powers and duties conferred or imposed on the Chairperson by or under this Act, which may also be exercised or performed by the Deputy Chairperson or any officer or officers of the Board and the conditions and restrictions, if any, subject to which the powers and duties may be exercised and performed:

Provided that any powers and duties conferred or imposed upon the Deputy Chairperson or any officer of the Board under this clause shall be exercised and performed by him subject to the supervision and control of the Chairperson.

16. Restriction of re-employment.

(1) The Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and other Members, on ceasing to hold office shall not, for a period of one year, accept any employment (including as consultant or otherwise) in any organisation relating to Major Port whose matter has been dealt with by such Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member, as the case may be, or has been before the Board when he held office as such Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or Member.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall prevent the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or a Member, as the case may be, to accept any employment in any organisation relating to Major Port controlled or maintained by the Central Government or the State Government.

17. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Board.

No act or proceedings of the Board shall be invalid merely by reason of––

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Board; or

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a Member of such Board; or

(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Board not affecting the merits of the case.

18. Power to make appointments.

(1) The power of appointing any person to any post, whether temporary or permanent shall––

(a) in the case of a post––

(i) the incumbent of which is to be regarded as the Head of a Department; or

(ii) to which such incumbent is to be appointed; or

(iii) the maximum of the pay scale of which (exclusive or allowances) exceeds such amount as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, fix, be exercisable by the Central Government after consultation with the Chairperson;

(b) in the case of any other post, be exercisable by the Chairperson or by such authority, as may be specified by the regulations:

Provided that no person shall be appointed as a pilot at any port, who is not for the time being authorised by the Central Government under the provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 to pilot vessels at that or any other port. 15 of 1908.

(2) The Central Government may, by order, specify any post the incumbent of which shall, for the purposes of this Act, be regarded as the Head of a Department.

19. Authentication of orders and other instruments of Board.

All orders, decisions and other instruments issued by the Board shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chairperson.

CHAPTER III
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION A. STAFF OF MAJOR PORT AUTHORITY

20. List of staff of Board.

The Board shall after every five years prepare and submit to the Central Government a list of the employees of the Board of Major Port Authority indicating therein the designations and grades of employees, and the salaries, fees and allowances which are proposed to be paid to them.

B. PROPERTY AND CONTRACTS

21. Board to be deemed as successor of Board of Trustees of Major Port.

On and from the date of constitution of the Board––

(a) the Board of the Major Port Authority shall be the successor of the Board of Trustees constituted under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963; 38 of 1963.

(b) all the assets and liabilities of the Board of Trustees shall stand transferred to, and vested in, the Board.

Explanation.––For the purposes of clause (b), the assets of the Board of Trustees shall be deemed to include all rights and powers, all properties, whether movable or immovable, including, in particular, cash balances, deposits and all other interests and rights in, or arising out of, such properties as may be in the possession of the Board of Trustees and all books of account and other documents relating to the same; and liabilities shall be deemed to include all debts, liabilities and obligations of whatever kind;

(c) without prejudice to the provisions of clause (a), all debts, obligations and liabilities incurred, all contracts entered into and all matters and things engaged to be done by, with or for the Board of Trustees immediately before that date, for or in connection with the purpose of the said Board of Trustees, shall be deemed to have been incurred, entered into or engaged to be done by, with or for, the Board;

(d) all sums of monies due to the Board of Trustees immediately before that date shall be deemed to be due to the Board;

(e) all suits and other legal proceedings instituted or which could have been instituted by or against the Board of Trustees immediately before that date may be continued or may be instituted by or against the Board;

(f) every employee serving under the Board of Trustees of the Major Port immediately before such date shall become an employee of the Board, shall hold his office or service therein by the same tenure and upon the same terms and conditions of service as he would have held if the Board had not been established and shall continue to do so unless and until his employment in the Board is terminated or until his tenure, remuneration or terms and conditions of service are duly altered by the Board:

Provided that the tenure, remuneration and terms and conditions of service of any such employee shall not be altered to his disadvantage without the previous sanction of the Central Government; and

(g) every person who was receiving any retirement benefit from the Board of Trustees under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 immediately before such date, shall continue to receive the same benefit from the Board:

Provided that the retirement benefit of such person shall not be altered by the Board to his disadvantage without the previous sanction of the Central Government.

22. Usage of port assets by oard.

(1) The Board of each Major Port shall be entitled to use its property, assets and funds in such manner and for such purposes as it may deem fit for the benefit of that Major Port.

(2) All port assets shall be used and developed as per the regulations made by the Board in that behalf and to the exclusion of any municipal, local or Government regulation:

Provided that the manner of any contract or arrangement by the Board for sale of land or immovable property, or period and manner for lease of land or immovable property for port related use and non-port related use, shall be in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided further that the tenure for lease of land or immovable property for Public Private Partnership projects by the Board shall be subject to the policy notified by the Central Government in respect of such Public Private Partnership projects.

(3) The Board of each Major Port may erect, construct or build such civil structures for port development or improving commerce and trade in national interest for which no regulatory license or approval from the State authorities shall be required, unless so mandated by the Central Government.

(4) For those port assets that relate to landing places and limits of customs area and which require fresh approval from the Commissioner of Customs under the Customs Act, 1962, the Board of each Major Port Authority shall, by notification, declare the availability and readiness of such port assets after the said approval has been received from the Commissioner of Customs.

23. Procedure when immovable property cannot be acquired by agreement.

Where any immovable property is required for the purposes of the Board, the Central Government, or as the case may be, the State Government may, at the request of the Board, procure the acquisition thereof under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 or any other law for the time being in force, and on payment by the Board, the compensation awarded under that Act and of the charges incurred by the Government in connection with the proceedings, the land shall vest in the Board.

24. Contracts by Board.

(1) The Board of each Major Port shall be competent to enter into and perform any contract necessary for discharging of its functions under this Act.

(2) Every contract shall, on behalf of the Board of each Major Port, be made by the Chairperson or by any such officer of the Board as the Chairperson may by general or special order, authorise in this behalf and shall be sealed with the common seal of the Board.

(3) The form and manner in which any contract shall be made under this Act, shall be such as may be specified by regulations.

C. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

25. Master Plan.

Subject to the rules made under this Act, the Board of each Major Port shall be Master Plan. entitled to create specific master plan in respect of any development or infrastructure established or proposed to be established within the port limits and the land appurtenant

thereto and such master plan shall be independent of any local or State Government regulations of any authority whatsoever:

Provided that in case of any conflict between the master plan created by the Board and any local authority, the master plan created by the Board shall prevail.

26. Powers of Board in respect of planning and development.

(1) For the purposes of planning and development of the Major Port, the Board in relation to that Major Port shall have the power to make regulations, not inconsistent with the Customs Act, 1962 or any rules made thereunder, to–– 52 of 1962.

(a) undertake, execute and perform such works and provide such services at or within the port limits and Major Port approaches on such terms and conditions as it may deem necessary or expedient;

(b) declare availability of the port assets at the Major Port or Major Port approaches for port related activities and services subject to such limits, conditions and restrictions as it may deem necessary or expedient;

(c) develop and provide infrastructure facilities including setting up of new ports, jetties, navigational channels, dry ports and such other infrastructure in furtherance of the interest of the Major Port;

(d) take charge of the goods from the concerned owner for the purpose of performing any port related services;

(e) order, in case of emergency or for any other reason, the master or owner or agent of any sea-going vessel, not to bring any vessel alongside of, or to remove such vessel from, any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty or pier belonging to or under the control of the Board;

(f) permit construction and development by itself or through any person, to make, erect, fix or remove within the port limits or Major Port approaches any wharf, dock, quay, stage, jetty, pier, building or structure, erection or mooring or undertake any reclamation of foreshore within the said limits and buildings and amenities required for the residence and welfare of the employees of the Board, subject to such limits, conditions and restrictions as it may deem necessary or expedient;

(g) provide exemption or remission from payment of any rate or charge leviable on any goods or vessels or class of goods or vessels under this Act;

(h) provide any other services or amenities in respect of vessels, passengers, goods or employees;

(i) undertake, execute and perform such works, activities and studies to promote maritime education, training skill development of coastal communities, seafarers welfare and Major Port related development; and

(j) make or construct or erect within the port limits such structures, buildings, drains, roads, fences, tube-wells, in-take wells, storage facilities, warehouses, pipelines, telephone lines, communication towers, electricity supply or transmission equipment and such other works and conveniences as the Board of each Major Port thinks proper.

(2) The power of the Board to make regulations under sub-section (1) shall be independent of powers of any local authority to make regulations in respect of Major Port:

Provided that in case of conflict between the regulations made by the local authority and those made by Board, the regulations made by Board shall prevail.

D. IMPOSITION OF RATES

27. Scale of rates for assets and services available at Major Port.

(1) The Board of each Major Port Authority or the committee or committees constituted in this behalf by the Board in accordance with section 14, may,––

(a) frame scale of rates at which, and a statement of conditions under which, any services shall be performed or made available;

(b) frame scale of rates at which, and a statement of conditions under which, the access to and usage of the port assets may be allowed by the Board;

(c) frame consolidated scale of rates for any combination of services specified in clause (a) or for any combination of such service or services with any user or permission to use or access to any port assets as specified in clause (b);

(d) pass an order for refund of any amount overcharged by the Board in relation to the services provided to any person;

(e) pass an order for recovery of any rate or charge which is short-levied or erroneously refunded by the Board to any person under this Act; and

(f) frame different scales, fees, rates and conditions for different classes of goods and vessels under this section:

Provided that the fixation and implementation of such scales, fees, rates and conditions shall be in consonance with the norms as may be prescribed and shall––

(i) not be with retrospective effect;

(ii) not be in derogation with the rules made by or directives of the Central Government in this behalf;

(iii) not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002; and

(iv) not be inconsistent with the provisions of any other law for the time being in force:

Provided that in case of Public Private Partnership projects after the commencement of this Act, concessionaire shall fix the tariff based on market conditions and on such other conditions as may be notified:

Provided further that the revenue share and other conditions would be as per the provisions of the specific concession agreement between the Board and the Public Private Partnership concessionaire appointed under the Public Private Partnership project.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Board may, by auction or by inviting tenders, lease any port asset belonging to or in its possession or occupation at a rate higher than that provided under clause (b) of sub-section (1).

28. Board’s lien for rates.

(1) The Board for the amount of all rates leviable under this Act in respect of any goods and for the rent due to such Board for any buildings, plinths stacking areas, or other premises on or in which any goods may have been placed, it shall have a lien on such goods, and may seize and detain the same until such rates and rents are fully paid.

(2) The right of lien referred to in sub-section (1) shall have priority over all other liens and claims, except for general average and for ship owner’s lien upon the said goods for freight and other charges where such lien exists and has been preserved in the manner provided in sub-section (1) of section 29, and for monies payable to the Central Government under any law for the time being in force relating to customs, other than by way of penalty or fine.

(3) The right of lien referred to in sub-section (1) shall also vest with any concessionaire appointed by the Board with whom a concession contract under a Public Private Partnership project for operating any berth or terminal within the port limits has been executed by the said Board.

29. Ship-owner’s lien for freight and other charges.

(1) If the master or owner of any vessel or his agent, at or before the time of landing from such vessel or any goods at any port asset belonging to or in the occupation of the Board of the Major Port, gives to such Board a notice in writing that such goods are to remain subject to a lien for freight or other charges payable to the ship-owner, to an amount to be mentioned in such notice, such goods shall continue to be liable to such lien to such amount.

(2) The goods shall be retained in the custody of the Board at the Board’s designated storage or godown or warehouse stations at the risk and expense of the owners of the goods until such lien is discharged and godown or storage rent shall be payable by the party entitled to such goods for the time during which they may be so retained.

(3) Upon the production, before any officer appointed by the Board in that behalf, of a document purporting to be a receipt for, or release from, the amount of such lien, executed by the person by whom or on whose behalf such notice has been given, the Board may permit such goods to be removed without regard to such lien, provided that the Board shall have used reasonable care in respect to the authenticity of such document.

30. Sale of goods and application of sale proceeds in certain cases.

(1) The Board may, after expiry of such time and in such manner as stipulated in section 48 of the Customs Act, 1962, sell any goods that have passed or placed into the custody of the Board upon landing thereof––

(a) if any rates payable to the Board in respect of such goods have not been paid; or

(b) if any rent payable to the Board in respect of any place on or in which such goods have been stored has not been paid; or

(c) if any lien of any ship-owner or Container Freight Station or Inland Container Depot for freight or other charges of which notice has been given has not been discharged and if the person claiming such lien for freight or other charge has made to the Board an application for such sale; or

(d) if such goods are not removed by the owner or the person entitled thereto from the premises of the Board:

Provided that the Board may authorise any concessionaire appointed by it under the Public Private Partnership project for operating any berth or terminal within the port limits to sell such goods:

Provided further that any such authorisation by the Board shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the concession agreement entered into by the Board with such concessionaire.
52 of 1962.

(2) The proceeds of sale of goods under sub-section (1) shall be applied in the manner as provided in section 150 of the Customs Act, 1962. 52 of 1962.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, controlled goods may be sold at such time and in such manner as the Central Government may direct.

Explanation.––For the purposes of this section, the expression “controlled goods” means the goods, the price or disposal of which is regulated under any law for the time being in force.

31. Recovery of rates and charges by distraint of vessel.

(1) If the master of any vessel in respect of which any rates or penalties are payable under this Act, or under any regulations or orders made in pursuance thereof, refuses or neglects to pay the same or any part thereof on demand, the Board on its own or on request of the concessionaire appointed by the Board under the Public Private Partnership project, may distrain or arrest such vessel and the tackle, apparel and furniture belonging thereto, or any part thereof, and detain the same until the amount so due to the Board or such concessionaire, together with such further amount as may accrue for any period during which the vessel is under distraint or arrest, is paid.

(2) In case any part of the said rates or penalties, or of the cost of the distress or arrest, or of the keeping of the same, remains unpaid for the space of fifteen days next after any such distress or arrest has been so made, the Board on its own or on request of such

concessionaire may cause the vessel or other thing so distrained or arrested to be sold, and, with the proceeds of such sale, shall satisfy such rates or penalties and costs, including the costs of sale remaining unpaid, rendering the surplus (if any) to the master of such vessel on demand.

32. Application to Adjudicatory Board.

Any person aggrieved by any action of the Board while exercising its powers under sections 22 to 31 (except section 29), may approach the Adjudicatory Board constituted under section 54 by filing an application before it in such form, manner and on payment of such fee, as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER IV
POWERS OF BOARDS OF MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES IN RESPECT OF LOANS AND SECURITIES
A. FINANCIAL POWERS OF BOARDS OF MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES

33. Power to raise loans and issue securities.

(1) The Board may for the purposes of its capital expenditure and working capital requirements raise loans in any currency or currencies from any––

(a) scheduled bank or financial institution located within India; or

(b) financial institution in any country outside India in compliance with the laws for the time being in force:

Provided that no loan or loans exceeding a sum equivalent to fifty per cent. of the capital reserves of the Board shall be raised by the Board without the previous sanction of the Central Government.

(2) The loans may be raised by Board in the open market within India and in any country outside India on port securities including but not limited to debentures, bonds and stock certificates issued by the Board or may be obtained from the Central Government or a State Government:

Provided that no loans shall be raised from and no securities shall be issued to any person resident outside India without complying with the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, the circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the Foreign Direct Investment Policy issued by the Central Government and any other law for the time being in force.

(3) The holder of any port security in any form may obtain in exchange thereof, upon such terms as the Board may from time to time determine, a port security in such form as may be specified by the regulations made by the Board.

(4) The right to sue in respect of monies secured by port securities shall be exercisable by the holders thereof subject to the provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963.

(5) Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to affect the power of the Boards of Major Port Authorities to raise loans under the Local Authorities Loans Act, 1914.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Board may borrow monies by means of temporary overdraft or otherwise by pledging the securities held by the Board in its reserve funds or on the security of the fixed deposits of the Board in its banks:

Provided that such temporary overdrafts or other loans shall not be taken, without previous sanction of the Central Government, if at any time in any year the amount of such overdrafts or other loans exceeds a sum equivalent to fifty per cent. of the capital reserves of the Board:

Provided further that all monies so borrowed by temporary overdrafts or otherwise shall be expended for the purposes of this Act.

34. Endorsements to be made on security itself.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 15 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, no endorsement of a port security, which is transferable by endorsement, shall be valid unless made by the signature of the holder inscribed on the back of the security itself.

35. Endorser of security not liable for amount thereof.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, a 26 of 1881.
person shall not by reason only of his having endorsed any port security be liable to pay any monies due, either as principal or as interest thereunder.

36. Recognitions holder of port securities in certain cases and legal effect thereof.

(1) The person to whom a duplicate or new security has been issued under the regulations made by the Board shall be deemed for the purposes of sub-section (2) to have been recognised by the Board as the holder of the security; and a duplicate security or a new security so issued to any person shall be deemed to constitute a new contract between the Board and such person and all persons deriving title thereafter through him.

(2) No recognition by the Board of a person as the holder of a port security shall be called in question by any court so far as such recognition affects the relations of the Board with the person recognised by it as the holder of a port security or with any person claiming an interest in such security; and any such recognition by the Board of any person shall operate to confer on that person a title to the security or securities subject only to a personal liability to the rightful owner of the security for money had and received on his account.

37. Discharge in certain cases.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Limitation Act, 1963–– 36 of 1963.

(a) on payment of the amount due on a port security on or after the date on which payment becomes due; or

(b) when a duplicate security has been issued under the regulations made by the Board under sub-section (1) of section 36; or

(c) when a new security has been issued upon conversion, consolidation or sub-division under the regulations made by the Board, the Board shall be discharged from all its liability in respect of the security so paid or in place of which a duplicate or new security has been issued––

(i) in the case of payment after the lapse of six years from the date on which payment was due;

(ii) in the case of a duplicate security after the lapse of six years from the date of the issue thereof or from the date of the last payment of interest on the original security, whichever date is later;

(iii) in case of a new security issued upon conversion, consolidation or sub-division after the lapse of six years from the date of the issue thereof.

38. Security for loans taken out by Boards of Major Port Authorities.

If a loan is raised by the Board of any Major Port and a security other than the port security is required to be furnished to secure such loan, the Board of that Major Port may secure such loan against––

(a) the port assets other than––

(i) any sum set apart by the Board––

(A) as the sinking fund for the purpose of paying off any loan; or

(B) for the payment of pension to its employees; or

(ii) the provident or pension fund established by the Board; and

(b) income of the Board from the port assets and services.

39. Power of Board to repay loans to Government before due date.

The Board may apply any sums, out of monies which may come into its hands under the provisions of this Act and which can be so applied without prejudicing the security of the other holders of port securities, in repaying to the Government any sum which may remain due to it in respect of the principal account of any loan although the time fixed for the repayment of the same may not have arrived.

40. Establishment and application of sinking fund.

(1) In respect of loans raised by the respective Board of the Major Port Authorities under this Act, which are not repayable before the expiration of one year from the date of such loans, such Boards shall set apart out of their income enough sinking fund or funds to service or liquidate such loans for a period of at least one year.

(2) Before the commencement of this Act, if any sinking fund had been established by the Board of Trustees constituted under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 in respect of a loan raised by it for which loan, the Board is liable under this Act and the sinking fund so established by that Board of Trusts shall be deemed to have been established by the Board under this Act.

(3) The sums so set apart by the Board under sub-section (1) and the sums forming part of any sinking fund referred to in sub-section (2) shall be applied in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4) The Board may apply the whole or any part of the sums accumulated in any sinking fund in or towards the discharge of the monies borrowed for the repayment of which the fund has been established:

Provided that the Board pays into the fund in each year, and accumulates until the whole of the monies borrowed are discharged, a sum equivalent to the interest which would have been produced by the sinking fund, or the part of the sinking fund so applied.

41. Existing loans and securities to continue.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, all loans raised or borrowed and all securities issued or pledged in relation to a Major Port prior to the commencement of this Act shall continue to be governed in accordance with the provisions of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

B. GENERAL ACCOUNTS OF MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES

42. General accounts of Board.

All monies received by or on behalf of the Board under the provisions of this Act shall be credited to such general account or accounts of the Board which the Board may from time to time generally open with any Nationalised Bank or any Scheduled Bank as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

43. Application of money in general accounts.

(1) The monies credited to the general account or accounts under section 42, shall be applied by the Board in payment of the following charges, namely:––

(a) the salaries, fees, allowances, pensions, gratuities, compassionate allowances or other monies due to––

(i) the Members of the Board except Members appointed under clauses (d), (e) and (f) of sub-section (1) of section 3;

(ii) the serving and retired employees of the Board; and (iii) the surviving relatives, if any, of such employees;

(b) the cost and expenses, if any, incurred by the Board in the conduct and administration of any provident or welfare fund or loan or special fund established by the Board;

(c) the maintenance, development, security and protection of the Board and the docks, warehouses and other port assets;

(d) the cost of repairs and maintenance of the property belonging to or vested in the Board and all charges upon the same and all working expenses;

(e) the costs, expenses, sums, payments and contributions to be made or incurred by the Board for the purposes provided under sections 25 and 26; and

(f) any other charge or expenditure for which the Board may be legally liable.

(2) All monies standing to the credit of the Board which cannot immediately be applied in the manner or for the purposes specified in sub-section (1) may be used for such lawful purposes as the Board may from time to time decide.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 42 and sub-sections (1) and (2), monies received by or on behalf of the Board from non-port related use except those falling under section 70 shall be credited to a designated account and shall be applied by the Board for capital investment or for such purposes as may be prescribed.

C. ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

44. Accounts and audit.

(1) The Board shall prepare a budget, maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts including the balance-sheet in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or such other person as may be appointed by him in this behalf and any amount payable to him by the Board in respect of such audit shall be debitable to the general account of the Board.

(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Board under this Act shall have the same rights, privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India generally has in connection with the audit of Government accounts and, in particular shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers, and to inspect any of the offices of the Authority.

(4) The accounts of the Board, as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf, together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government by the Board and the Central Government shall cause the same to be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.

CHAPTER V
SUPERVISION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

45. Administration report.

As soon as may be after the first day of April in every year and not later than such date as may be fixed by the Central Government, the Board shall submit to the Central Government a detailed report of the administration of the Board during the preceding year ending on the thirty-first day of March, in such form as the Central Government may direct.

46. Power of Central Government to order survey or examination of works of Board.

Power of Central Government to order survey or examination of works of Board.

The Central Government may, at any time, order a local survey or examination of any works of the Board, or the intended site thereof and the cost of such survey and examination shall be borne and paid by the Board from and out of the monies credited to its general account.

47. Power of Central Government to restore or complete works at cost of Board.

(1) If, at any time, the Central Government is of the opinion that the inaction by any Board in repairing, completing, restoring, carrying out or providing any work or appliance mentioned in sub-section (2) has led to a grave emergency, the Central Government may cause such work to be restored or completed or carried out, or such repairs to be carried out or such appliance to be provided and the cost of any such restoration, completion, construction, repair or provision shall be paid by the concerned Board from and out of the monies credited to its general account.

(2) The following actions or omissions may be considered to have led to grave emergency under sub-section (1), if any Board––

(a) allows any work or appliance constructed or provided by, or vested in, the Board to fall into disrepair; or

(b) does not, within a reasonable time, complete any work commenced by the Board or included in any estimate sanctioned by the Central Government; or

(c) does not, after due notice in writing, proceed to carry out effectually any work or repair or provide any appliance which is necessary in the opinion of the Central Government for the purposes of this Act.

48. Power of Central Government to take over management of Board.

(1) If, at any time, the Central Government is of the opinion––

(a) any Board is unable to perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force; or

(b) that any Board has persistently made defaults in performance of the duties imposed upon it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force and as a result of such default, the financial position or the administration of that Board has greatly deteriorated, the Central Government may, by notification, take over the management of that Board for such period, not exceeding twelve months at a time, as may be specified in the notification:

Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section for the reasons mentioned in clause (b), the Central Government shall give a reasonable time of not less than three months to the Board to show-cause why its management should not be taken over and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of that Board.

(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) for taking over the management of the Board,––

(a) all the Members of the Board shall, as from the date of taking over, stand removed from their respective office or position in the Board;

(b) all the powers and duties which may, by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force, to be exercised or performed by or on behalf of the Board, shall be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the Central Government may direct in this behalf until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) of sub-section (3);

(c) all property vested in the Board shall, until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) of sub-section (3), vest in the Central Government.

(3) On the expiration of the period of taking over specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1) or at any time prior to such expiration, the Central Government may, by notification,––

(a) extend the period of taking over the management of the Board for such further term, not exceeding twelve months, as it may consider necessary; or

(b) re-constitute the Board by making fresh appointment to all posts of the Board on such terms and conditions as the Central Government may consider necessary, and in such case, any person who stand removed from their offices under clause (a) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed disqualified for appointment.

49. Laying of report.

For any action or actions taken under sections 47 and 48 and any notification issued under section 48, the Central Government shall prepare and cause a full report of any such action or actions and notification and the circumstances leading to such action to be laid before each House of Parliament.

50. Power of Central Government to exempt from obligation to use port assets.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government may, in the interest of security of the nation or on account of a grave emergency, by general or special order, from time to time, permit certain specified vessels or classes of vessels to discharge or ship goods or certain specified goods or classes of goods, at such place in a Major Port or within the Major Port approaches, in such manner, during such period and subject to such payments to the concerned Board in relation to such Major Port or such Major Port approaches and on such conditions as the Central Government may think fit.

51. Board not to sell, alienate or divest its assets, properties, rights, powers and authorisations without sanction of Central Government.

The Board shall not sell, alienate or divest its assets, properties, rights, powers and authorisations vested in it under this Act without the prior sanction of the Central Government.

52. Remedies of Government in respect of loans made to Board.

(1) The Central Government or a State Government, from the date of commencement of this Act, shall have, in respect of loans made by it to the Board or of loans made to any other authority for the repayment of which the Board is legally liable on such commencement, the same remedies and priority as applicable under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 as if this Act had not been passed.

(2) For prospective loans by the Central or State Governments or of loans made by any other authority, the remedies would be the same as available to the holders of port securities issued by the Board unless priority or greater rights are granted by the Board in respect of such loans within the respective loan agreements.

53. Power of Central Government to issue directions.

(1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the Board shall in discharge of its functions under this Act, be bound by such directions on question of policy as the Central Government may give in writing from time to time:

Provided that the Board shall be given an opportunity to express its views before any direction is given under this sub-section.

(2) The decision of the Central Government on whether a question is one of the policy or not shall be final and binding on the Board.
38 of 1963.

CHAPTER VI
CONSTITUTION OF ADJUDICATORY BOARD

54. Constitution of Adjudicatory Board.

(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, a Board to be known as the Adjudicatory Board to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on such Adjudicatory Board by or under this Act:

Provided that until the constitution of the Adjudicatory Board, the Tariff Authority for Major Ports constituted under section 47A of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 shall 38 of 1963. discharge the functions of the Adjudicatory Board under this Act and shall cease to exist immediately after the constitution of the Adjudicatory Board under this Act:

Provided further that on and from the date of constitution of the Adjudicatory Board—

(a) all the assets and liabilities of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports shall stand transferred to, and vested in, the Adjudicatory Board.

Explanation.––For the purposes of this clause, the assets of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports shall be deemed to include all rights and powers, all properties, whether movable or immovable, including, in particular, cash balances, deposits and all other interests and rights in, or arising out of, such properties as may be in the possession of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports, and all books of account and other documents relating to the same, and liabilities, shall be deemed to include all debts, liabilities and obligations of whatever kind;

(b) without prejudice to the provisions of clause (a), all debts, obligations and liabilities incurred, all contracts entered into, and all matters and things engaged to be done by, with or for the Tariff Authority for Major Ports before that date, for or in connection with the purpose of the said Tariff Authority for Major Ports, shall be deemed to have been incurred, entered into, or engaged to be done by, with or for, the Adjudicatory Board;

(c) all sums of money due to the Tariff Authority for Major Ports immediately before that date shall be deemed to be due to the Adjudicatory Board;

(d) all suits and other legal proceedings instituted or which might have been instituted by or against the Tariff Authority for Major Ports immediately before that date may be continued or may be instituted by or against the Adjudicatory Board;

(e) every employee serving under the Tariff Authority for Major Ports immediately before such date shall become an employee of the Adjudicatory Board and shall hold his office or service therein by the same tenure without any change or derogation of the terms and conditions of service held with the Tariff Authority for Major Ports:

Provided that the tenure, remuneration and terms and conditions of service of any such employee shall not be altered to their disadvantage without the previous sanction of the Central Government;

(f) every person who was receiving any retirement benefits from the Tariff Authority for Major Ports immediately before such date, shall continue to receive the same benefit from the Adjudicatory Board:

Provided that the retirement benefits of such person shall not be altered by the Adjudicatory Board to his disadvantage without the previous sanction of the Central Government.

(2) The head office of the Adjudicatory Board shall be at such a place as may be notified by the Central Government:

Provided that the Adjudicatory Board may hold its sittings at such other places as the Presiding Officer may decide from time to time, having taken into consideration the convenience to decide the disputes referred to it.

55. Composition of Adjudicatory Board.

The Adjudicatory Board shall consist of a Presiding Officer and two other members, as may be appointed by the Central Government.

56. Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Presiding Officer and members of Adjudicatory Board.

(1) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Presiding Officer of the Adjudicatory Board unless he is—retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a member of the Adjudicatory Board unless he is––

(a) a retired Chief Secretary of a State Government or equivalent; or

(b) a retired Secretary of the Government of India or equivalent, and has an experience of not less than twenty years in the field of finance, commerce, administration, maritime, shipping or port related matters.

(3) The Presiding Officer and members of the Adjudicatory Board shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, the Secretary of the Department dealing with Shipping and such other persons, and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4) The Presiding Officer and members of the Adjudicatory Board shall hold office for a term not exceeding five years from the date on which they enter upon their office or until they attain the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

(5) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the Presiding Officer and members of the Adjudicatory Board shall be such as may be prescribed:

Provided that neither the salary and allowance nor other terms and conditions of service of the Presiding Officer or members of the Adjudicatory Board shall be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.

57. Removal and suspension of Presiding Officer and members of Adjudicatory Board.

(1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, remove from office of the Presiding Officer, who––

(a) has been adjudged as an insolvent;

(b) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such Presiding Officer or member;

(c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude;

(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such Presiding Officer or member; or

(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Presiding Officer shall not be removed from his office except by an order made by the Central Government on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by the Chief Justice of India or his nominee on a reference made to him by the Central Government in which such Presiding Officer has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.

(3) The Central Government may, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of India suspend from office, the Presiding Officer in respect of whom reference has been made to the Chief Justice of India under sub-section (2) until the Central Government has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Chief Justice of India on such reference.

(4) The Central Government shall, after consultation with the Supreme Court, make rules to regulate the procedure for the inquiry on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity referred to in sub-section (2).

(5) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), a member of the Adjudicatory Board shall not be removed from his office except by an order made by the Central Government on the ground of his proved misbehaviour or incapacity, after an inquiry, held in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this behalf by the Central Government, come to the conclusion that the member ought to be removed on any such ground referred to in sub-section (1).

(6) The Central Government may suspend any member of the Adjudicatory Board in respect of whom an inquiry under sub-section (5) is being initiated or pending until the Central Government has passed an order on receipt of the report of the inquiry.

58. Powers and functions of Adjudicatory Board.

(1) The Adjudicatory Board referred to in section 54 shall perform the following functions, other than tariff setting, namely:––

(a) the functions envisaged to be carried out by the erstwhile Tariff Authority for Major Ports arising from the Tariff Guidelines of 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2019 and tariffs orders issued by the said Authority;

(b) to receive and adjudicate reference on any dispute or differences or claims relating to rights and obligations of Major Ports and Public Private Partnership concessionaires or captive users for dedicated berth within the framework of their concession agreements and to pass orders after considering and hearing all the parties involved in the dispute;

(c) to appraise, review the stressed Public Private Partnership projects as referred by the Central Government or the Board, and to suggest measures to revive such projects;

(d) to look into the complaints received from port users against the services and terms of service rendered by the Major Ports or the private operators operating in the Major Ports and to pass necessary orders after hearing the parties concerned; and

(e) to look into any other matter relating to the operations of the Major Port, as may be referred to it by the Central Government or the Board, and to pass orders or give suggestions, as the case may be.

(2) The procedure to be adopted by the Adjudicatory Board, while discharging its functions referred to in sub-section (1), as well as other matters related to funding, accounts and audit of such Board shall be such as may be prescribed.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, while exercising the powers under sub-section (1), the Adjudicatory Board shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:—

(a) the discovery and production of books of account and other documents, at such place and at such time as may be specified by the Adjudicatory Board;

(b) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath;

(c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents; and

(d) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(4) Any proceeding before the Adjudicatory Board, shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 and for the purposes of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, and the Adjudicatory Board shall be deemed to a civil court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

59. Bar of jurisdiction of any court.

No other court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit for proceeding in respect of any matter falling within the scope of the Adjudicatory Board under this Act:

Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to matters stated in section 58 that are referred to arbitration by the concerned parties within the framework of their respective contracts or concession agreements.

60. Review and appeal.

(1) Any party aggrieved by any decision or order of the Adjudicatory Board under this Act, from which an appeal is allowed under sub-section (2), but from which no appeal has been preferred, may apply for a review of such decision before the Adjudicatory Board, in such form and manner and within such time, as may be prescribed, and the said Board may make such order thereon, as it thinks fit.

(2) Any party aggrieved by any decision or order of the Adjudicatory Board, may file an appeal to the Supreme Court of India, within sixty days from the date of communication of such decision or order to him:

Provided that no appeal shall lie from a decision or order passed by the Adjudicatory Board with the consent of parties:

Provided further that the Supreme Court may, entertain any appeal after the expiry of sixty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal.

61. Officers and employees of Adjudicatory Board.

(1) The Adjudicatory Board may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, appoint officers and such other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.

(2) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the officers and employees of the Adjudicatory Board, shall be such as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER VII
PENALTIES

62. General provision for punishment of offences.

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or any rule, regulation or order made thereunder, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.

63. Offences by companies.

(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is 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 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 such 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 that the commission of the offence is attributable to any 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 purposes of this section, the expressions––

(a) “company” means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and

(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

CHAPTER VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

64. Cognizance of offences.

No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act or any rule or regulation made thereunder.

65. Protection of action taken in good faith.

No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Board or any Member or employee thereof or the Adjudicatory Board or the Presiding Officer or any member or employee thereof in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule or regulation made thereunder, or for any deficiency of service or any consequential losses on account of deficiency in services.

66. Employees of Board or Adjudicatory Board to be public servants.

Every person employed by the Board or the Adjudicatory Board under this Act, shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

67. Application of other laws not barred.

The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

68. Power to evict certain persons from premises of Board.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Board in exercise of the powers conferred on it by regulations made under this Act or by invoking the contractual remedies available to the Board may cancel the allotment of any premises made to any employee of the Board or any other person or evict an employee of the Board or any person in occupation of any port asset or premises or area in the port limits, by notice in writing, addressed to such allottee or employee or other person who may be in occupation or possession thereof in violation of the regulations specified or formulated by the Board:

Provided that such notice shall indicate the reasons for cancellation of allotment or eviction or removal along with the period within which the removal or eviction is sought and recovery of the sums of dues in arrears and also for the extended unauthorised use of such premises.

(2) If any allottee or employee or other person is aggrieved by the order made under sub-section (1), then the said allottee or employee or other person may appeal against the order with the compensation officer so appointed by the Board within thirty days from the receipt of the order under sub-section (1).

(3) If any allottee or employee or other person refuses or fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (1), then any Magistrate of the First Class may, on application made by or on behalf of the Board, order any police officer, with proper assistance, to enter into the premises and evict any person from, and take possession of, the premises and to deliver the same to the Board or a person appointed by the Board in that behalf and the police officer may, for the purpose, use such force as may be necessary.

(4) Any such notice as is referred to in sub-section (1) may be served––

(a) by delivering or tendering it to the allottee or employee or any other person who may be in occupation or possession of the whole or any part of the premises; or

(b) if it cannot be so delivered or tendered, by affixing it on the outer door or some other conspicuous part of the premises; or

(c) by registered post; or

(d) by publishing in the local newspaper having circulation in the area.

Explanation.––For the purposes of this section, the expression “premises” means any land, building or part of a building which is part of port assets and includes––

(i) areas such as canteens, gardens, grounds and out-houses, if any, appertaining to such building or part of a building;

(ii) any fittings affixed to such building or part of a building for the more beneficial enjoyment thereof; and

(iii) any furniture, books or other things belonging to the Board and found in such building or part of a building.

69. Alternate remedy by suit.

Without prejudice to any other action that may be taken under this Act, the Board may recover by suit any rates, damages, expenses, costs, or in case of sale the balance thereof, when the proceeds of sale are insufficient, or any penalties payable to, or recoverable by, the Board under this Act or under any regulations made in pursuance thereof.

70. Corporate Social Responsibility and development of infrastructure by Board.

(1) The Board may use its funds for providing social benefits including development of infrastructure in areas of education, health, housing, accommodation, skill development, training and recreational activities for its own employees, customers, business partners, Government and Non-Government Organisation, local communities, environment and society at large.

(2) The manner of utilisation of funds for the Corporate Social Responsibility shall be such, as may be prescribed.

Explanation.––For the purposes of this section, the expression “Corporate Social Responsibility” means the activities, to be undertaken by the concerned Major Port, as referred to in sub-section (1) and section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.

71. Power of Central Government to make rules.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:––

(a) the composition of the Selection Committee and the manner of appointment of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Board under sub-section (1) of section 4;

(b) the manner of appointment of Members of the Board under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 4;

(c) the procedure for conducting any inquiry made under sub-section (2) of section 5;

(d) the honorarium payable to the Independent Members under section 11;

(e) the parameters for creation of Master Plan under section 25;

(f)the norms for fixation and implementation of scales, fees, rates and conditions under sub-section (1) of section 27;

(g) the form, manner and fees for filing application before the Adjudicatory Board under section 32;

(h) the manner of applying the sums under sub-section (3) of section 40;

(i) the purposes for which the monies received by the Board shall be applied under sub-section (3) of section 43;

(j) the form in which the Board shall prepare an annual report under sub-section (1) of section 44;

(k) the manner of appointment of the Presiding Officer and members of the Adjudicatory Board under sub-section (3) of section 56;

(l) the salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of services of the Presiding Officer and members of the Adjudicatory Board under sub-section (5) of section 56;

(m) the procedure for conducting an inquiry under sub-section (5) of section 57;

(n) the procedure to be adopted by the Adjudicatory Board under sub-section (2) of section 58;

(o) other functions of the Adjudicatory Board under clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 58;

(p) the form and manner for applying of a review before the Adjudicatory Board under sub-section (1) of section 60;

(q) the salaries and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of officers and employees of the Adjudicatory Board under sub-section (2) of section 61;

(r) the manner of utilisation of funds for Corporate Social Responsibility under sub-section (2) of section 70; and

(s) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed, or in respect of which provision is to be made, by rules.

72. Power of Board to make regulations.

(1) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Central Government and after previous publication, by notification, shall make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:––

(a) rules of procedure for transaction of business under sub-section (1) of section 13;

(b) rules of procedure for transaction of business under sub-section (2) of section 14;

(c) the appointment of employees under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 18;

(d) the use and development of the port assets under sub-section (2) of section 22;

(e) the form and manner in which contracts shall be made by the Board under sub-section (3) of section 24;

(f) the purposes of planning and development of Major Port under sub-section (1) of section 26;

(g) the form of port security under sub-section (3) of section 33;

(h) the issuance of duplicate or new security under sub-section (1) of section 36; and

(i) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, specified by the regulations or in respect of which provision is to be made by the regulations.

73. Laying of rules and regulations.

Every rule made by the Central Government, every regulation made by the Board and every notification issued by the Central Government 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, regulation or notification or both Houses agree that the rule, regulation or notification should not be made, the rule, regulation or notification 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, regulation or notification.

74. Power to remove difficulties.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appears to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made in respect of a Major Port after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which this Act is made applicable to that Major Port.

(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.

75. Repeal and savings.

(1) The Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 is here by repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 under sub-section (1),––

(a) anything done primarily by the Board of Trustees and Tariff Authority for Major Ports under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 in respect of any rule, notification, inspection, order or notice made or issued or any appointment or declaration made or any operation undertaken or any direction given or any proceeding taken or any penalty, punishment, forfeiture or fine imposed under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, shall, insofar as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act;

(b) any order, rule, notification, regulation, appointment, conveyance, mortgage, deed, trust, special purpose vehicle, joint venture, document or agreement made, fee directed, resolution passed, direction given, proceeding taken, instrument executed or issued, or thing done under or in pursuance of the repealed Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue to be in force, and shall have effect as if made, directed, passed, given, taken, executed, issued or done under or in pursuance of this Act;

(c) any principle or rule of law, or established jurisdiction, form or course of pleading, practice or procedure or existing usage, custom, privilege, restriction or exemption shall not be affected, notwithstanding that the same respectively may have been in any manner affirmed or recognised or derived by, in, or from, the repealed Major Port Trusts Act, 1963;

(d) any person appointed to any office under or by virtue of the repealed Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 shall be deemed to have been appointed to that office under or by virtue of this Act;

(e) any jurisdiction, custom, liability, right, title, privilege, restriction, exemption, usage, practice, procedure or other matter or thing not in existence or in force shall not be revised or restored;

(f)any documents and any funds constituted and established under the repealed enactments shall be deemed to be documents and funds constituted or established under the corresponding provisions of this Act;

(g) any prosecution instituted under the repealed enactments and pending immediately before the commencement of this Act before any Court shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, continue to be heard and disposed of by the said Court;

(h) any inspection, investigation or inquiry ordered to be done under the repealed Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 shall continue to be proceeded with as if such inspection, investigation or inquiry has been ordered under the corresponding provisions of this Act; and

(i) the application of this Act to the port of Mumbai, the Bombay Port Trust Act, 1879 and the port of Kolkata, the Calcutta Port Act, 1890, in so far as the said Acts apply to municipal assessment of the properties of the port of Mumbai and port of Kolkata and matters connected therewith, shall continue to so apply.

(3) The mention of particular matters in sub-section (2) shall not be held to prejudice the general application of section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 with regard to the effect of repeal of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

76. Transitional provision.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Board of Trustees functioning as such immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue to so function until the Board for each Major Port is constituted under this Act, but on the constitution of such Board, under this Act, the Members of the Board of Trustees holding office before such constitution shall cease to hold office.

DR. G. NARAYANA RAJU,
Secretary to the Govt. of India