Dourine Act, 1910

(1) This Act may be called the Dourine Act, 1910.

(2) This section extends to the whole of India except1*[the territories which immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States]: the rest of this Act extends only to such areas as the State Government may, by notification [It has been so extended to Coorg, see Coorg Gazette, 1919, Part I, p.118, to Bombay, see Bombay Gazette, 1919, Part I, p.3001, to the C.P., see C.P.Gazette, 1922, Part I, p.1151]) in the Official Gazette, direct.

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1. Substituted for "Part B States" by 2.A.L.O., 1956

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(1) In this Act, the expressions "inspector" and "veterinary practitioner" mean, respectively, the officers appointed as such under this Act, acting within the local limits for which they are so appointed.

(2) The provisions of this Act in so far as they relate to entire horses shall, if the State Government, by notification as aforesaid, so directs, apply also to entire assess used for mule-breeding purposes.

The State Government may, by notification as aforesaid, make such orders as it thinks fit directing and regulating the registration of entire horses maintained for breeding purposes.

(1) The State Government may, by notification as aforesaid, appoint any persons it thinks fit to be inspectors, and any qualified veterinary surgeons to be veterinary practitioners, under this Act, and to exercise and perform, within any area prescribed by the notification, the powers conferred and duties imposed by this Act upon such officers respectively.

(2) Every person so appointed shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code.

An inspector may, subject to such rules as the State Government may make in this behalf,-

(a) Enter and search any building, field or other place for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is therein any horse which is affected with dourine;  [The word "and" repealed by Act 8 of 1920, section 2.]

(b) Probit, by order in writing, the owner or keeper of any horse, which in his opinion is affected with dourine, from using such horse for breeding purposes, pending examination by the veterinary practitioner;

[Inserted by Act 8 of 1920, section 2].

[(c) Direct, by order in writing, the owner or keeper of any horse which, in the opinion of the inspectors, is affected with dourine to remove it or permit it to be removed for the purpose of segregation to a place specified in the order, and such direction shall be sufficient authority for the detention of the horse in that place for that purpose.]

An inspector issuing an order under section 5, [The word and letter "clause (b)" repealed by section 3, ibid] shall forthwith forward a copy of such order to the veterinary practitioner.

A veterinary practitioner reviving a copy of an order forwarded under section 6 shall, as soon as possible after receipt of such copy, examine the horse mentitioner therein, and may for such purpose enter any building, field or other place.

A veterinary practitioner may-

(a) Cancel any order issued under section 5, {The word and letter "clause (b)" repealed by section 3, ibidI;} or

(b)  If on microscopical examination {Inserted by section 4, ibid.} {or by other scientific test} he finds that any horse is affected with dourine,-

(i)  In the case of an entire horse, cause it to be castrated, {Substituted by section 4, ibid., for the original sub-clause.}

[(ii) In the case of a mare, with the previous sanction of such authority as the State Government may appoint in this behalf, or, if so empowered by the State Government, without such sanction, cause it to be destroyed.]

When any horse is castrated or destroyed under section 8, the market-value of such horse immediately before it became affected with dourine shall be ascertained; and the State Government shall pay as compensation to the owner thereof-

(a) In the case of a mare which has been destroyed, or of an entire horse which has died in consequence of castration, such market-value, and,

(b) In the case of an entire horse which survives castration, half the amount by which such value has been diminished owing to infection with dourine and castration.

(1)  A veterinary practitioner may award, as compensation to be paid under section 9 in respect of each horse castrated or destroyed under section 8, a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees.

(2) If, in the opinion of the veterinary practitioner, the amount which should be paid as such compensation exceeds two hundred and fifty rupees, he shall report accordingly to the Collector, who shall decide the amount to be so paid.

(1)  The State Government shall, by rules published in the Official Gazette, make provision for the constitution of a committee or committees for the hearing of appeals from decisions under section 10.

(2) Such rules shall provide that not less than one member of any committee constituted there under shall be a person not in the service of the Government or of a local authority.

Any owner may, within two months from the date of a decision under section 10, appeal against such decision to the committee constituted in that behalf by rules made under section 11, and the decision of such committee shall be final.

(1)  Whoever, being an inspector appointed under this Act, vexatiously and unnecessarily enters or searches any field, building or other place, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

(2) No prosecution under this this section shall be instituted after the expiry of three months from the date on which the offence has been committed.

(1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

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

{Substituted by Act 8 of 1920, section 5, for the original clause.}

[(a) Regulate the exercise of the powers conferred on inspectors under section 5;]

(b) Regulate the action to be taken by veterinary practitioners under section 8; {The word "and" at the end of clause (b) and the whole of clause (c) repealed by section 5, ibid.}.

{The word "and" at the end of clause (b) and the whole of clause (c) repealed by section 5, ibid.}

(3) All such rules shall be published in the Official Gazette, and, on such publication, shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.

1*[(3A) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.".]

(4) In making any rule under this section the State Government may direct that a breach of it shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees.

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1. Inserted by The Delegated Legislation Provisions (Amendment) Act, 2004

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Whoever uses or permits to be used for breeding purposes-

(a) Any horse which has not been registered in accordance with the requirements of a notification under section 3, or {Substituted by Act 8 of 1920, section 6, for the original clause (b) and (c).}

(b) Any horse in respect of which an order under clause (b) or clause (c) of section 5 is in force,]shall be punishable with fine which may amount, in the case of a first conviction, to fifty rupees, or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to one hundred rupees.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is, in good faith, done or intended to be done under this Act.