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THE ASSAM TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY) RULES, 1963

THE ASSAM TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY) RULES, 1963

THE ASSAM TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY) RULES, 1963

[THE ASSAM TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY) RULES, 1963][1]

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 73 of the Assam Town and Country Planning Act, 1959, (Assam Act II of 1960) and in supersession of the Assam Town and Country Planning (Constitution of Authority) Rules, 1961, the Governor of Assam in consultation with the Advisory Council is pleased to make the following rules for the functioning and management of the authority that may be declared or constituted under Section 8A(1) and 8B(1) of the Assam Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, "1962, (Assam Act XXXII of 1962) namely

Rule - 1.

These rules shall be called the Assam Town and Country Planning (Management of Authority), Rules, 1963.

Rule - 2.

They shall come into force at once.

Rule - 3. Definitions .

In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context

[2][(1) "Municipality" means the Municipality constituted under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956 within the area concerned;

(2) "Land" has the same meaning as in clause (a) of Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act I of 1894);

(3) "Secretary to the Authority" mean the person for the time being appointed as such by the Authority;

(4) "Member" means a member of the Authority;

(5) All words and expressions not defined in these rules shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them by the Assam Town and Country Planning Act, 1959 or Assam Municipal Act, 1956.]

Rule - 4. The Chairman

The Chairman of the Authority to be appointed by Government under Section 8-B (1) (a) of the Act, may be a whole-time officer of the Authority and shall not hold any other salaried officer.

Rule - 5. Remuneration of the Chairman

The Chairman shall be paid such salary and allowances as may be fixed by the State Government.

Rule - 6. Leave of absence to the Chairman

[(1)  The State Government may grant leave of absence for such period as admissible under Fundamental Rules and Subsidiary Rules.][3]

(2)   The allowances, if any, to be paid to the Chairman where such Chairman is a whole-time officer of the Authority while absent on leave shall be such amount, not exceeding his salary, as may be fixed by the State Government:

Provided that, if the Chairman is a servant of the State Government, the amount of the allowances shall be such as he may be entitled to under the conditions of his service under the State Government relating to transfer to foreign service.

Rule - 7. Appointment etc., of acting Chairman

(1)     When the Chairman is granted leave of absence, the State Government may appoint may a person to act as Chairman.

(2)     Where any person so appointed is a whole-time officer of the Authority, he

(a)      shall be paid such salary and allowances as may be fixed by the State Government; and

(b)      shall exercise the powers conferred and perform the duties imposed, by or under these rules on the Chairman, and shall be subject to the same liabilities, restrictions and conditions as the Chairman, where such Chairman is a whole-time officer of the Authority.

Rule - 8. Terms and conditions of office of the Chairman and other members

(1)   The term of office of the first members including the Chairman and the ex-officio members shall commence on such day as may be appointed by the State Government.

[(2) The term of office of the Chairman and non-official members, excluding ex-officio members shall be as follows

(a)      The Chairman - Not exceeding 5 years, from the date of his appointment by the State Government;

(b)      Non- official Members - Not exceeding 5 years, from the date of their appointment by the State Government.][4]

Rule - 9. Leave of absence to other members

The Authority may permit any member other than Chairman or an ex-officio member, to absent himself from meetings of the Authority for any period not exceeding four consecutive months at any one time within a year.

Rule - 10. Power of the Authority to co-opt members for particular purpose

[(1) The Authority may associate with itself any person as co-opted member for a period of three years whose assistance or advice it may consider necessary in carrying out its duties and functions as may be decided by the Authority in its meeting by passing a resolution for such co-option.][5]

(2)  The person so associated shall not be deemed to be a member of the Authority and shall have no right to vote at any meeting thereof, but he may take part in the discussions of the Authority relating to the purpose or purposes for which he was associated with the Authority.

Draft rule

Rule - 10 A. Meeting of Authority

(1)     The Authority shall meet, and shall from time to time make such arrangements with respect to the place, day, hour, notice, management and adjournment of its meetings as it may think fit, subject to the following provisions, namely

(a)      an ordinary meeting shall be held at least once in every month;

(b)      the Chairman may whenever he thinks fit, and shall, upon the written request of not less than two other members, call a meeting;

(c)      the Chairman shall attend every meeting of the Authority unless he is absent on leave or prevented by sickness or other reasonable cause;

(d)      no business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Authority unless there be present at that meeting at least five members :

Provided that if at the time appointed for a meeting or within half an hour thereafter, a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to some future day to be appointed by the Chairman or in his absence by the member chosen by the meeting to preside and three days notice of such adjourned meeting shall be given. The members present at such adjourned meeting shall form a quorum;

(e)      every meeting shall be presided over by the Chairman and in his absence by a member chosen by the members present to preside for the occasion;

(f)       every matter coming before the Authority shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in cases of equality of votes, the person presiding shall have and exercise a second or casting vote;

(g)      if a division be demanded on any question at a meeting the names of the members voting and the nature of their votes, shall be recorded by the person presiding;

(h)     minutes of the proceedings at each meeting (together with the names of the members present) shall be recorded in a book to be provided for the purpose, and such minutes shall be read at the next meeting and signed by the person presiding at such meeting and the minutes book shall be open to inspection by any member during Office hours.

(2)     No member shall be entitled to object to the minutes of any meeting unless he was present at the meeting to which they relate."][6]

Rule - 11. Constitution and functions of Committees

(1)     The Authority may, from time to time, with a view to give effect to the purposes of these rules and other rules under the Act, appoint one or more committees consisting of such of the following classes as it may think fit, namely

(i)       Members of Authority;

(ii)      Persons associated with the Authority;

(iii)     Other persons whose assistance or advice the Authority may desire as members of such Committees :

Provided that no Committee shall consist of less than three and more than seven persons.

(2)     The Authority may

(a)      refer to such Committee, for inquiry and report, any matter relating to any of the purposes of these rules, and other rules under the Act;

(b)      delegate to such Committee, by specific resolution and subject to any rules made in this behalf, any of the powers or duties of the Authority relating to the subject-matter for which the Committee has been appointed.

(3)     The Authority may, at any time, for reasons to be recorded in writing, dissolve, or subject to the provisions of sub-rule (1), after the constitution of any such Committee.

(4)     Every Committee shall carry out any instruction given to it by the Authority and every final decision of such Committee shall, subject to any rule to the contrary, be laid before the Authority for such confirmation.

Rule - 12. Meeting of Committees

(1)     A Committee appointed under Rule 11 may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper; but the Chairman may, whenever he thinks fit, and shall, upon the written request of not less than two members thereof, call a special meeting of such Committee.

(2)     Every meeting of a Committee shall be presided over by the Chairman if he is a member of the Committee, and if he is not a member or is absent from the meeting, the members present shall elect a person from amongst themselves to preside.

(3)     No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Committee unless there be present at least one-half of the number of the members constitution the Committee.

(4)     Every matter at a meeting of a Committee shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting, the person presiding having a second or casting vote in all cases of equality of votes.

Rule - 13. Members (other than Chairman) and associated members of Authority or Committee not to receive any fee for attendance at meetings

(1)     Subject to sub-rule (3), no member (other than the Chairman), and no person associated with the authority under Rule 10 shall be paid from the funds of the Authority any fee or other remuneration for attending any meeting of the Authority or of a Committee appointed under Rule 12.

(2)     Subject to sub-rule (3), no person appointed as a member of Committee under clause (iii) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 11, shall receive or be paid from the funds of the Authority any fee or other remuneration for attending any meeting of such Committee.

(3)     All members or any person associated with the Authority under Rule 10 or any person appointed as a member of a Committee under clause (iii) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 11 may, subject to the prescribed conditions and restrictions for undertaking any journey in connection with any of the affairs of the Authority or of any Committee, as the case may be, be paid travelling and other allowances for attending any meeting of such Authority or Committee at such rates as may be fixed by the Authority with the approval of the State Government.

Rule - 14. Members and associated members of Authority or Committee not to take part in proceedings in which they are personally interested

If any member or any person associated with the Authority under Rule 10 or any other member of a Committee appointed under Rule 11, has directly or indirectly, any beneficial interest in any land situated in any area comprised in any improvement scheme to be taken up under these rules or in any area in which it is proposed to acquire land for any of the purposes of these rules

(i)       he shall, before taking part in any proceeding at a meeting of the Authority or any Committee relating to such area, inform the person presiding at the meeting of the nature of such interest;

(ii)      he shall not vote at any meeting of the Authority or the said Committee upon any resolution or question relating to such land; and

(iii)     he shall not, if so directed by the person presiding, take any part in any proceeding at a meeting of the Authority or the said Committee relating to such area.

Rule - 15. Supply of documents and information to the State Government

(1)     The Chairman shall forward to the State Government and to the Commissioner of Division concerned copies of the minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Authority within ten days from the date on which the minutes are signed.

(2)     The Chairman shall, if so directed by the State Government, forward to it a copy of all papers which were laid before the authority for consideration at any meeting.

(3)     The State Government may require the Chairman to furnish it with-

(a)      any return, statement, estimate, statistics or other information regarding any matter under the control of the Authority; or

(b)      a report on any such matter; or

(c)      a copy of any document in the charge of the Chairman.

CHAPTER – II OFFICERS AND SERVANTS OF THE AUTHORITY

Rule - [16. Appointment of a Secretary

The State Government may appoint one suitable person as the Secretary of the Authority who shall exercise the following powers and perform such duties as mentioned below and in addition to other functions as may be delegated to him by the Chairman

(1)     To deal with all establishment matters relating to appointment, discipline, service records and supervision of the work of General Branch;

(2)     To do the Secretariat works in connection with the meeting of the Development Authority;

(3)     To keep in his safe custody the common seal of the Authority and all valuable documents, confidential papers and property, books of the Authority including deeds, securities, agreements, etc., excepting all books of accounts and cash in hand.][7]

Rule - 17. Power of appointment and promotion of officers and staff of the Authority

The power of appointing and promoting officers and servants of the Authority and reducing suspending or dismissing them for misconduct and dispensing with their services for any reason other than misconduct, shall be vested with

(a)      in the case of officers and servants whose monthly salary does not exceed two hundred rupees-the Chairman;

(b)      in the case of officers and servants whose monthly salary exceeds two hundred rupees but does not exceed five hundred rupees-the Chairman with the approval of the Authority;

(c)      in the case of officers and servants whose monthly salary exceeds five hundred rupees-the Authority with the previous sanction of the State Government:

Provided that any officer or servant of the State Government or a local body whose services have been lent to the Authority shall not be punished except by an Authority which would have been competent to do so, if his services had not been so lent and the Chairman or the Authority, as the case may be, shall be entitled only to make a recommendation in that behalf to such Authority.

Rule - 18. Control, etc., by the Chairman over the staff of the Authority.

The Chairman shall exercise supervision and control over the acts and proceedings of all officers and servants of the Authority and subject to the foregoing rules, shall dispose of all questions relating to the service of the said officers and servants, and their salaries, allowances and privileges.

Rule - 19. Service rules, etc., of officers and other staff

The Authority shall, with the previous sanction of the State Government, make rules

(a)      fixing the amount nature of the security to be furnished by any officer or servant of the Authority from it may be deemed expedient to require security;

(b)      for regulating the grant of leave of absence, leave allowances and acting allowances to the officers and servants of the Authority:

Provided that a servant of the Government employed as an officer or servant of the Authority shall not be entitled to leave or leave allowances otherwise than as may be laid down in the conditions of his service under the Government relating to transfer to foreign service;

(c)      for establishing and maintaining a provident fund for compelling all or any of the officers or servants of the Authority in order to tender financial benefit to them in their old ages;

(d)      for determining the conditions under which the officers and servants of the authority or any of them shall on retirements receive gratuities or compassionate allowances and the amount of such gratuities and compassionate allowances :

Provided that it shall be at the discretion of the Authority to determine whether all such officers and servants or any of them and if so, which of them shall become entitled on retirement to any such gratuities or compassionate allowances as aforesaid.

Rule - 20. Delegation of certain functions of the Chairman

(1)     The Chairman may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any officer of the Authority any of the Chairman's powers, duties or functions under these rules except those conferred or imposed upon or vested in him by Rules 13 and 17.

(2)     The exercise or discharge by any officer of any powers, duties or functions delegated to him under sub-rule (1) shall be subject to such retrictions, conditions and limitations as may be laid down by the Chairman, and shall also be subject to his control and revision.

Rule - 21. Appeals against the orders of the Chairman

(1)     An appeal shall lie from an order of punishment other than an order of censure or fine to the Authority next higher to the Authority that passed the order, and in the case of original orders passed by the Authority to the Appellate Authority as may be appointed under the provisions of the Assam Town and Country Planning Act, 1959:

Provided that, if the Appellate Authority enhances the punishment, an appeal shall lie to the next higher authority against such order :

Provided also that in all cases the order of State Government shall be final.

(2)     For the purpose of this rule, an order of suspension only not be deemed to be an order of punishment.

(3)     The State Government may set aside any resolution of the Authority or any order of the Chairman of the Authority if in the opinion of the State Government the resolution or order is in excess of the power conferred by law.

Rule - 22. Statement of strength and remuneration of staff

(1)     The Authority shall from time to time prepare and shall maintain a statement showing

(a)      the number, designation and grades of the officers and servants (other than employees who are paid on daily basis or whose pay is charged to temporary work) whom it considers necessary and proper to employ;

(b)      the amount and nature of the salary, fees and allowances to be paid to each such officer and servant.

(2)     Any posts, the monthly or the maximum monthly salary of which exceeds three hundred rupees are subject to the previous sanction of the State Government.

Rule - 23. Savings

Notwithstanding the supersession of the Assam Town and Country Planning (Constitution of Authority) Rules, 1961, anything done or any action taken in exercise of any power conferred by or under the said rules shall be deemed to have been done or taken in exercise of the powers conferred by or under these rules, as if these rules were in force on the day on which such thing was done or action taken.



[1] Published in the Assam Gazette, Part II-A, dated 11th September, 1963, pp-2412-2418.

[2] Deleted clauses (1), (4), and (6) in Rule 3 and thereafter existing clause (1)-(8) re-numbered as clause (1)-(5), vide Notification No. TCP. 84/67, dated 25th March, 1969, [Published in the Assam Gazette, dated 1st October, 1969].

Note: Before deletion clauses (1), (4), and (6) read as follows :

(1) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Authority;

(4) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under the Assam Town And Country Planning Act, 1959.

(6) "Appellate Authority" has the same meaning as in Section 43 of the Assam Town And Country Planning Act, 1959.

[3] Substituted sub- rule (1) in Rule 6, published in the Assam Gazette vide Notification No. TCP. 84/67, dated 25th March, 1969, [Published in the Assam Gazette, dated 1st October, 1969].

[4] Substituted sub- rule (1) in Rule 10, Published in the Assam Gazette vide Notification No. TCP. 84/67, dated 25th March, 1969, [Published in the Assam Gazette, dated 1st October, 1969].

[5] Substituted sub- rule (2) in Rule 8, published in the Assam Gazette vide Notification No. UDD(T).238/ 2004/11, dated 28th Feb., 2006, [w.e.f. 4-3-2006].

Before substitution read as

(a) The Chairman - such period as may be fixed by the State Government, not being less than three years commencing, in the case of the first Chairman, on the day appointed under sub-rule (1) and in the case of any subsequent Chairman on the date on which his appointment is notified;

(b) members - three years commencing in case of the first members on the day appointed under sub-rule (1) and in the case of subsequent members, on the date on which their election or appointment, as the case may be, is notified.

[6] Inserted as new Draft rule "10 A" vide Notification No. TCP. 112/88/117, dated the 21st March, 1990 (with effect from 17-10-1990). [Published in the Assam Gazette, Part IIA, dated 17th October, 1990].

[7] Substituted Rule 16, Published in the Assam Gazette vide Notification No. TCP. 84/67, dated 25th March, 1969, [Published in the Assam Gazette, dated 1st October, 1969].