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Union of India - Act

The Gresham And Craven Of Indian (Private) Limited (Acquisition And Transfer Of Undertakings) Act, 1977

UNION OF INDIA
India

The Gresham And Craven Of Indian (Private) Limited (Acquisition And Transfer Of Undertakings) Act, 1977

Act 42 of 1977

Published on 20 December 1977
Commenced on 20 December 1977
[This is the version of this document from 20 December 1977.]
[Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]

The Gresham And Craven Of Indian (Private) Limited (Acquisition And Transfer Of Undertakings) Act, 1977(Act No. 42 of 1977)

1867.

Statement of Objects and Reasons. - Messrs. Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited was a private company wholly owned by the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Limited of U.K. and its nominee. For various reasons including mismanagement, the company started incurring losses from 1966 and ultimately it had to he closed down on the 6th January 1971. It remained closed for three months and then the Government of India. after investigation, took over the management of the company on the 31st March, 1971, under the provisions of Section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. The factory was reopened on the 12th April, 1971. The company is mainly engaged in the manufacture of rolling stock components of the Indian Railways, such as vacuum brake equipment, ejectors, steam valves, vacuum exhausters etc. After takeover of the management by the Central Government, there had been considerable progress in the production performance of the company. The actual production for the year 1976-77 had been of the order of Rs. 177 lakhs. After careful consideration of the whole matter, the Government decided to acquire the undertakings of this company.At the time of takeover of the management of the company, it was clear that it was not possible for the company to meet all its past dues. Accordingly, moratorium was imposed on the 14th August. 1972 in accordance with the provisions of Section 18FB of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, on realisation of the dues from the company. The period of this moratorium which cannot exceed five years in aggregate, expired on the 13th August, 1977. since early action was necessary, the undertakings of the company were acquired by promulgation of the Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1977 on the 30th September, 1977.The Bill seeks to replace the said Ordinance. - Gazette of India, 21-11-1977, Part II, Section 2, Ext., page 727.[20th December, 1977.]An Act to provide for the acquisition and transfer of the undertakings of Messrs.Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited for the purpose of ensuring the continuity of production of goods which are vital to the needs of the Railways and of the industries manufacturing engineering products and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.Whereas Messrs. Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited were engaged in the manufacture and production of components of rolling stock like vacuum brake equipment, ejectors, steam brake valves and vacuum exhausters and the like needed by the Railways and the industries manufacturing engineering products;AND WHEREAS as a result of the losses suffered by the Company, there had been a closure of the works owned by the Company;AND WHEREAS for the purposes of speedily bringing the closed works of the Company into operation, the management of the undertakings of the Company was taken over by the Central Government for a limited period under section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951.);AND WHEREAS it is necessary to acquire the undertakings of the Company to ensure the continuance of the production of goods which are vital to the needs of the Railways and of the industries manufacturing engineering products;BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-

Chapter I
Preliminary

1. Short title and Commencement.

(1)This Act may be called the Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1977.

(2)The provisions of sections 28 and 29 shall be deemed to have come into force on the 30th day of September, 1977 and the remaining provisions of this Act shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of August, 1977.

2. Definitions.

- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)"appointed day" means the 1st day of August, 1977;

(b)"Braithwaite and Company Limited" means the Government commissioner known as the Braithwaite and Company Limited in which the undertakings of the Braithwaite and Commissioner (India) Limited together with the right, title and interest of the said Company thereon vested with effect from the 1st day of December, 1976, in pursuance of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Industry (Department of Heavy Industry) No.S.O.771 (E), dated the 3rd December, 1976, issued under sub-section (1) of section 6 of the Braithwaite and Company (India) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of undertakings) Act, 1976 (96 of 1976.);

(c)"Commissioner means the Commissioner of Payments appointed under section 14;

(d)"Company means the Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited, being a company as defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956.), and having its registered office at 22-Gobra Road, Calcutta-14;

(e)"Government company" has the meaning assigned to it by section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956.);

(f)"notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(g)"Ordinance" means the Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1977 (14 of 1977.);

(h)"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(i)"specified dates" means such date as the Central Government may, for the purpose of any provision of this Act, by notification, specify and different dates may be specified for different provisions of this Act;

(j)words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall have the meanings, respectively, assigned to them in that Act.

Chapter II
Acquisition And Transfer Of The Undertakings Of The Company

3. Transfer of and vesting in the Central Government of the undertakings of the Company.

- On the appointed day, the undertakings of the Company, and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, shall, by virtue of this Act, stand transferred to, and shall vest in, the Central Government.

4. General effect of vesting.

(1)The undertakings of the Company shall be deemed to include all ass, rights, lease-holds, powers, authorised and privileges, and all property, movable and immovable including lands, buildings, workshops, stores, instruments, machinery and equipment, cash balances, cash on hand, reserve funds, investments, book debts and all other rights and interests in, or arising out of, such property as were immediately before the appointed day in the ownership, possession, power or control of the Company, whether within or outside India, and all books of account, registers and all other documents of whatever nature relating thereto.

(2)All properties as aforesaid which have vested in the Central Government under section 3 shall, by force of such vesting, be freed and discharged from any trust, obligation, mortgage, charge, lien and all other encumbrances affecting it, and any attachment, injunction or decree or order of any court restricting the use of such property in any manner or appointing any receiver in respect of the whole or any part of such property shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(3)Every mortgage of any property which has vested under this Act in the Central Government and every person holding any charge, lien or other interest in, or in relation to, any such property shall give, within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, an intimation to the Commissioner of such mortgage, charge, lien or other interest.

(4)For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the mortgage of any property referred to in sub-section (3) or any other person holding any charge, lien or other interest in, or in relation to, any such property shall be entitled to claim, in accordance with his rights and interests, payment of the mortgage money or other dues, in whole or in part, out of the amount specified in section 8, and also out of the monies determined under section 9, but, no such mortgage, charge, lien or other interest shall be enforceable against any property which has vested in the Central Government.

(5)If on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding by or against the Company, of whatever nature in relation to any property which has vested in the Central Government, under section 3, is pending, the same shall not abate, be discontinued or be, in any way, prejudicially affected by reason of the transfer of the undertakings of the Company or of anything contained in this Act, but the suit, appeal or other proceeding may be continued, prosecuted or enforced by or against the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, where the undertakings of the Company are directed, under section 7, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company.

5. Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited or the Government company not to be liable for prior liabilities.

(1)Every liability of the Company in respect of any period prior to the appointed day, shall be the liability of the Company and shall be enforceable against it and not against the Central Government, or, the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, where the undertakings of the Company are directed, under section 7, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company.

(2)For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that, --

(a)save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, no liability of the Company in respect of any period prior to the appointed day shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or, Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, where the undertakings of the Company are directed, under section 7, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company;

(b)no award, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority in relation to the undertakings of the Company, passed after the appointed day, in respect of any matter, claim or dispute which arose before that day, shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, where the undertakings of the Company are directed, under section 7, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company;

(c)no liability incurred by the Company before the appointed day, for the contravention of any provision of law for the time being in force, shall be enforceable against the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, where the undertakings of the Company are directed, under section 7, to vest in a Government company, against that Government company.

6. Vesting of the undertakings of the Company in the Braithwaite and Company Limited.

(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 3 and 4, the Central Government shall, as soon as may be, after the promulgation of Ordinance, direct, by notification, that the undertakings of the Company, and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings which have vested in that Central Government under section 3, shall, instead of continuing to vest in the Central Government, vest in the Braithwaite and Company Limited either on the date of the notification or on such earlier or later date (not being a date earlier than the appointed day) as may be specified in the notification.

(2)Where the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, vest in the Braithwaite and Company Limited under sub-section (1), the Braithwaite and Company Limited shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the owner in relation to such undertakings, and all the rights and liabilities of the Central Government in relation to such undertakings shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the rights and liabilities, respectively, of the Braithwaite and Company Limited.

7. Power of Central Government to direct vesting of the undertakings of the Company in a Government company.

(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 3, 4, and 6, the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that a Government company is willing to comply, or has complied, with such terms and conditions as that Government may think fit to impose direct, by notification, that the undertakings of the Company, and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, which have vested in the Central Government under section 3 and thereafter in the Braithwaite and Company Limited, under section 6, shall, instead of continuing to vest in the Braithwaite and Company Limited, vest in the Government company either on the date of the notification or on such earlier or later date (not being a date earlier than the appointed day) as may be specified in the notification.

(2)Where the right, title a detention interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings vest in a Government company under sub-section (1), the Government company shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the owner in relation to such undertakings, and all the rights and liabilities of the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited in relation to such undertakings shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the rights and liabilities, respectively, of the Government company.

Chapter III
Payment Of Amounts

8. Payment of amount.

- For the transfer to, and vesting in, the Central Government, under section 3, of the undertakings of the Company and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, there shall be given by the Central Government to the Company, in cash, and in the manner specified in Chapter VI, and amount of rupees one hundred and seventy-six lakhs.

9. Payment of further amount.

(1)For the deprivation of the Company of the management of its undertakings, there shall be given to the Company by the Central Government an amount calculated at the rate of rupees fifty thousand per annum for the period commencing on the date on which the management of the undertakings of the Company was taken over by the Central Government and ending on the appointed day.

(2)In consideration of the retrospective operation of the provisions of sections 3, 4 and 5, there shall also be given, in cash, by the Central Government to the Company, an amount equal to an amount calculated at the rate of rupees fifty thousand per annum for the period commencing on the appointed day and ending on the date of promulgation of the Ordinance.

(3)The amount specified in section 8 and the amount determined under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall carry simple interest at the rate of four per cent.per annum for the period commencing on the date of promulgation of the Ordinance and ending on the date on which payment of such amounts is made by the Central Government to the Commissioner.

(4)The amount determined in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) shall be given by the Central Government to the Company in addition to the amount specified in section 8.

(5)For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the liabilities of the Company, in relation to its undertakings which have vested in the Central Government under section 3, shall be discharged from the amounts referred to in section 8, and also from the amounts determined under sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) in accordance with the rights and interests of the creditors of the Company.

Chapter IV
Management, Etc., Of The Undertakings Of The Company

10. Management, etc., of the undertakings of the Company.

(1)The Braithwaite and Company Limited in which the undertakings of the Company and the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings vested under section 6 shall be entitled to exercise all such powers and do all such things as the Company is authorised to exercise and do in relation to its undertakings.

(2)The general superintendence, direction, control and management of the affairs and business of the undertakings of the Company, the right, title and interest in relation to which have vested, under section 3, in the Central Government and, under section 6, in the Braithwaite and Company Limited shall, where a direction has been made by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 7, vest in the Government company so specified shall be entitled to exercise all such powers and do all such things as the Company is authorised to exercise and do in relation to its undertakings.

11. Duty of persons in charge of management of the undertakings of the Company to deliver all assets, etc.

(1)On the vesting of the management of the undertakings of the Company in the Braithwaite and Company Limited, all persons in charge of the management of the undertakings of the Company immediately before such vesting shall be bound to deliver to the Braithwaite and Company Limited all assets, books of account, registers or other documents in their custody relating to the undertakings of the Company.

(2)The Central Government may issue such directions as it may deem desirable in the circumstances of the case to the Braithwaite and Company Limited as to its or his powers and duties and the Braithwaite and Company Limited may also, if it or he so desires, apply to the Central Government at any time for instructions as to the manner in which the management of the undertakings of the Company shall be conducted by it or in relation to any other matter arising in the course of such management.

(3)On the vesting of the management of the undertakings of the Company in a Government company, the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply to, or in relation to, the Government company as they apply to, or in relation to, the Braithwaite and Company Limited, subject to the modification that the references to the Braithwaite and Company Limited shall be construed as references to the Government company.

Chapter V
Provisions Relating To The Employees Of The Company

12. Employment of certain employees to continue.

(1)Every person who has been, immediately before the appointed day, employed in any undertaking of the Company shall become, on and from the appointed day, or such later date, as the case may be, an employee of the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or, as the case may be, of the Government company in which the right, title and interest of the Company in relation to its undertakings, have vested under this Act, and shall hold office or service under the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the cash may be, with the same rights and privileges as to pension, gratuity and other matters as would have been admissible to him if there had been no such vesting and shall continue to do so unless and until his employment under the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the case may be, is duly terminated or until his remuneration, and other conditions of service are duly altered by the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or by the Government company, as the case may be.

(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947.), or in any other law for the time being in force, the transfer of the services of any officer or other person employed in the undertaking of the Company to the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, shall not entitle such officer or other employee to any compensation under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force and no such claim shall be entertained by any court, tribunal or other authority.

(3)Where, under the terms of any contract, of service or otherwise, any person, whose services become transferred to the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, by reason of the provisions of this Act, is entitled to any arrears of salary or wages or any payments for any leave not availed of or any other payment, not being payment by way of gratuity or pension, such person may enforce his claim against the Company, but not against the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company.

13. Provident fund and other funds.

(1)Where the Company has established a provident fund, superannuation fund, welfare fund or other fund for the benefit of the persons employed in the undertakings of the Company, the monies relatable to the officers or other employees, whose services have become transferred by or under this Act to the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, shall, out of the monies standing, on the appointed day, to the credit of such provident fund, superannuation fund, welfare fund and other fund, stand transferred to, and shall vest in, the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the case may be.

(2)The monies which stand transferred under sub-section (1) to the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the case may be, shall be dealt with by the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, in such manner as may be prescribed.

Chapter VI
Commissioner Of Payments

14. Appointment of Commissioner of Payments.

(1)The Central Government shall, for the purpose of disbursing the amounts payable to the Company under sections 8 and 9, by notification, appoint a Commissioner of Payments.

(2)The Central Government may appoint such other persons as it may think fit to assist the Commissioner and thereupon the Commissioner may authorise one or more of such persons also to exercise all or any of the powers exercisable by him under this Act and different persons may be authorised to exercise different powers.

(3)Any person authorised by the Commissioner to exercise any of the powers exercisable by the Commissioner may exercise those powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they have been conferred on that person directly by this Act and not by way of authorisation.

(4)The salaries and allowances of the Commissioner and other persons appointed under this section shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

15. Payment by the Central Government to the Commissioner.

(1)The Central Government shall, within thirty days from the specified date, pay, in cash, to the Commissioner, for payment to the Company -

(a)an amount equal to the amount specified in section 8; and

(b)an amount equal to the amount payable to the Company under section 9.

(2)A deposit account shall be opened by the Central Government in favour of the Commissioner, in the Public Account of India, and every amount paid under this Act to the Commissioner, shall be deposited by him to the credit of the said deposit account and the said deposit account shall be operated by the Commissioner.

(3)The Interest accruing on the amounts standing to the credit of the deposit account referred to in sub-section (2) shall enure to the benefit of the Company.

16. Certain powers of the Central Government or Braithwaite and Company Limited or Government company.

(1)The Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive up to the specified date, to the exclusion of all other persons, any money due to the Company, in relation to its undertakings which have vested in the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, realised after the appointed day notwithstanding that the realisations pertains to a period prior to the appointed day.

(2)The Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, as the case may be, may make a claim to the Commissioner with regard to every payment made by it after the appointed day for discharging any liability of the Company, in relation to any period prior to the appointed day; and every such claim shall have priority, in accordance with the priorities attaching, under this Act, to the matter in relation to which such liability has been discharged by the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited or the Government company.

(3)Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the liabilities of the Company in respect of any transaction prior to the appointed day, which have not been discharged on or before the specified date, shall be the liabilities of the Company.

17. Claims to be made to the Commissioner.

- Every person having a claim against the Company shall prefer such claim before the Commissioner within thirty days from the specified date:Provided that if the Commissioner is satisfied that the claimant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the claim within the said period of thirty days, he may entertain the claim within a further period of thirty days and not thereafter.

18. Priority of claims.

- The claims arising out of the matters specified in the Schedule shall have priorities in accordance with the following principles, namely :--

(a)Category I shall have precedence over all other categories and Category II shall have precedence over Category III, and so on;

(b)the claims specified in each of the categories, shall rank equally and be paid in full, but, if the amount is insufficient to meet such claims in full, they shall abate in equal proportions and be paid accordingly;

(c)the question of discharging any liability with regard to a matter specified in a lower category shall arise only if a surplus is left after meeting all the liabilities specified in the immediately higher category.

19. Examination of claims.

(1)On receipt of the claims made under section 17, the Commissioner shall arrange the claims in the order of priorities specified in the Schedule and examine the same in accordance with such order of priorities.

(2)If, on examination of the claims, the Commissioner is of the opinion that the amount paid to him under this Act is not sufficient to meet the liabilities specified in any lower category, he shall not be required to examine the claims in respect of such lower category.

20. Admission or rejection of claims.

(1)After examining the claims with reference to the priorities set out in the Schedule, the Commissioner shall fix a date on or before which every claimant shall file the proof of his claim, failing which he will be excluded from the benefit of the disbursements made by the Commissioner.

(2)Not less than fourteen days' notice of the date so fixed shall be given by advertisement in one issue of the daily newspaper in English language and in one issue of the daily newspaper in the regional language as the Commissioner may consider suitable, and every such notice shall call upon the claimant to file the proof of his claim with the Commissioner within the time specified in the advertisement.

(3)Every claimant who fails to file the proof of his claim within the time specified by the Commissioner shall be excluded from the disbursements made by the Commissioner.

(4)The Commissioner shall, after such investigation as may, in his opinion, be necessary and after giving the Company and opportunity of refuting the claim and after giving the claimant a reasonable opportunity of being heard, in writing, admit or reject the claim in whole or in part.

(5)The Commissioner shall have the power to regulate his own procedure in all matters arising out of the discharge of his functions, including the place or places at which he will hold his sittings and shall, for the purpose of making any investigation under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908.), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely :-

(a)the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;

(b)the discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence;

(c)the reception of evidence on affidavits;

(d)the issuing of any commission for the examination of witnesses.

(6)Any investigation before the Commissioner shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860.) and the Commissioner shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974.).

(7)A claimant who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Commissioner may prefer an appeal against the decision to the principal civil court of original jurisdiction within the local limits of whole jurisdiction the registered office of the Company is situated:Provided that where a person who is a Judge of a High Court is appointed to be the Commissioner, the appeal shall lie to the High Court at Calcutta, and such appeal shall be heard and disposed of by not less than two Judges of that High Court.

21. Disbursement of money by the Commissioner to claimants.

- After admitting a claim under this Act, the amount due in respect of such claims shall be paid by the Commissioner to the person or persons to whom such sums are due, and, on such payment, the liability of the Company in respect of such claim shall stand discharged.

22. Disbursement of amounts to the Company.

(1)If, out of the monies paid to him in relation to the undertakings of the Company, there is a balance left after meeting the liabilities as specified in the Schedule, the Commissioner shall disburse such balance to the Company.

(2)Where the possession of any machinery, equipment or other property, has vested in the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, under this Act, but such machinery, equipment or other property does not belong to the Company, it shall be lawful for the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company to continue to possess such machinery, equipment or other property on the same terms and conditions under which they were possessed by the Company immediately before the appointed day.

23. Undisbursed or unclaimed amount to be deposited to the general revenue account.

- Any money paid to the Commissioner which remains undisbursed or unclaimed for a period of three years from the last day on which the disbursement was made shall be transferred by the Commissioner to the general revenue account of the Central Government; but a claim to any money so transferred may be preferred to the Central Government by the person entitled to such payment and shall be dealt with as if such transfer had not been made, the order, if any, for payment of the claim being treated as an order for the refund of the revenue.

Chapter VII
Miscellaneous

24. Act to have overriding effect.

- The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law, other than this Act, or in any decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority.

25. Contracts to cease to have effect unless ratified by the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited or Government company.

(1)Every contract entered into by the Company in relation to its undertakings for any service, sale or supply, and in force immediately before the appointed day, shall, on and from the expiry of one hundred and eighty days from that day, promulgation of the Ordinance, cease to have effect, unless such contract is, before the expiry of the period, ratified, in writing, by the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, and, in ratifying such contract, the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company may make such alteration or modification therein as it may think fit :Provided that the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company shall not omit to ratify a contract, and shall not make any alteration or modification in a contract, unless it is satisfied that such contract is unduly onerous or has been entered into in had faith or is detrimental to the interests of the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited or the Government company.

(2)The Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited or the Government company shall not omit to ratify a contract, and, shall not make any alteration or modification therein, except after giving to the parties to the contract a reasonable opportunity of being heard and except after recording, in writing its reasons for refusal to ratify the contract or for making any alteration or modification therein.

26. Protection of action taken in good faith.

(1)No suit, prosecution, or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or any officer of that Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, or any officer or other person authorised by that Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

(2)No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or any of its officers or other employees, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, or any officer or other person authorised by the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

27. Delegation of powers.

(1)The Central Government may, by notification, direct that all or any of the power exercised by it under this Act, other than the power conferred by section 30, may also be exercised by such person or persons as may be specified in the notification.

(2)Whenever any delegation of power is made under sub-section (1), the person to whom such power has been delegated shall act under the direction, control and supervision of the Central Government.

28. Penalties.

- Any person who, -

(a)having in his possession, custody or control any property forming part of the undertaking of the Company, wrongfully withholds such property from the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company; or

(b)wrongfully obtains possession of, or retains, any property forming part of the undertaking of the Company or wilfully withholds or fails to furnish to the Central Government, or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company or any person or body of persons specified by that Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, any document relating to such undertaking which may be in his possession, custody or control or fails to deliver to the Central Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company or any person or body of persons specified by that Government or the Braithwaite and Company Limited, or the Government company, any assets, books of account, registers or other documents in his possession, custody, or control relating to the undertaking of the Company; or

(c)wrongfully removes or destroys any property forming part of the undertaking of the Company or prefers any claim under this Act which he known or has reasonable cause to believe to be false or grossly inaccurate,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.

29. Offences by companies.

(1)Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(2)Notwithstanding anything contained sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall 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 -

(a)"company" means any 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.

30. Power 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 time within which, and the manner in which, an intimation shall be given to the Commissioner under sub-section (3) of section 4;

(b)the manner in which monies in any provident fund or other fund referred to in section 13 shall be dealt with;

(c)any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

(3)Every rule made 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 or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

31. Power to remove difficulties.

- If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, remove the difficulty:Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date on which this Act receives the assent of the President.

32. Declaration as to the policy of the state.

- It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing the principles specified in clause (b) of article 39 of the Constitution.Explanation. -- In this section "State" has the meaning as in article 12 of the Constitution.

33. Repeal and saving.

(1)The Gresham and Craven of India (Private) Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1977 (14 of 1977.), is hereby repealed.

(2)Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Ordinance so repealed shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.THE SCHEDULE(See sections 18, 19, 20, and 22)Order Of Priorities For The Discharge Of Liabilities Of The Company

Part A

Post-take-over management periodCategory I.Wages, salaries and other dues of the employees of the Company.Category II.

(i)Loans advanced by the Central Government.

(ii)Loans advanced by Banks.

Category III.Any credit availed of by the Company for the purpose of carrying on any trading or manufacturing operations.Category IVAny other loans.Category VRevenue, taxes, cesses, rates or any other dues to the Central Government or a State Government.

Part B

Pre-take-over management periodCategory VIArrears in relation to contributions to be made by the Company to the provident fund, salaries, wages and other amounts due to employees of the Company.Category VIIOverdrafts from Banks.Category VIIIRevenue, taxes, cesses, rates or any other dues to the Central Government, a State Government, a Local Authority or a State Electricity Board.Category IX

(i)Any credit availed of by the Company for purpose of trade of carrying on any trading or manufacturing operations.

(ii)any other dues.

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