The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984

(1) This Act may be called the Indian VeterinaryCouncil Act, 1984. (2) It extends, in the first instance, to the whole of the States of Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, HimachalPradesh and Rajasthan and to all Union territories1 ; and it shall also extend to such other States as mayadopt this Act by resolution passed in that behalf in pursuance of clause (1) of article 252 of theConstitution. (3) It shall come into force in a State or Union territory to which it extends, or may become extendedin future, on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appointand different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act or for different States or Unionterritories.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Council" means the Veterinary Council of India established under section 3; (b) "member" means a member of the Council; (c) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (d) "President" means the President of the Council; (e) "recognised veterinary qualification" means any of the veterinary qualifications included inthe First Schedule or the Second Schedule; (f) "register" means a register maintained under this Act; (g) "registered veterinary practitioner" means a person whose name is for the time being dulyregistered in a register; (h) "regulation" means a regulation made under this Act; (i) "State Veterinary Council" means a Veterinary Council established under section 32 andincludes a Joint State Veterinary Council established in accordance with an agreement undersection 33; (j) "veterinary institution" means any University or other institution within or without Indiawhich grants degrees, diplomas or licences in veterinary science and animal husbandry; (k) "veterinary medicine" means modern scientific veterinary medicine in all its branches andincludes veterinary surgery and obstetrics; (l) "Vice-President" means the Vice-President of the Council.

(1) With effect from such date as the CentralGovernment may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be establisheda Council to be called the Veterinary Council of India. (2) The Council shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and acommon seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and tocontract and shall by the said name sue or be sued. (3) The Council shall consist of the following members, namely:-- (a) five members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst Directors of AnimalHusbandry (by whatever name called) of those States to which this Act extends; (b) four members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the heads ofveterinary institutions in the States to which this Act extends; (c) one member to be nominated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research; (d) the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of India, ex officio; (e) one member to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the Ministry of theCentral Government dealing with animal husbandry; (f) one member to be nominated by the Indian Veterinary Association; (g) eleven members to be elected from amongst themselves by persons enrolled in the Indianveterinary practitioners register; (h) one member to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the Presidents of theState Veterinary Councils of those States to which this Act extends; (i) one member to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the Presidents of theState Veterinary Associations of those States to which this Act extends; (j) Secretary, Veterinary Council of India, ex officio. (4) The President and Vice-President shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves insuch manner as may be provided by regulations. (5) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall discharge thefunctions of the President. (6) The names of persons nominated or elected as members shall be notified by the CentralGovernment in the Official Gazette. (7) A person shall not be qualified for nomination or election to the Council unless he holds arecognised veterinary qualification.

(1) An election under clause (g) of sub-section (3) of section 3shall be conducted by the Central Government in accordance with such rules as may be made by it in thisbehalf and any rule so made may provide that pending the preparation of the Indian veterinarypractitioners register in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the members referred to in that clausemay be nominated by the Central Government instead of being elected as provided therein. (2) Where any dispute arises regarding any election to the Council, it shall be referred to the CentralGovernment for its decision which shall be final.

(1) The President or Vice-Presidentshall hold office for a term not exceeding three years and not extending beyond the expiry of his term as amember. (2) Subject to the provisions of this section, a member, other than an ex officio member, shall holdoffice for a term of three years from the date of his election or nomination to the Council or until hissuccessor shall have been duly elected or nominated, whichever is longer. (3) Members of the Council shall be eligible for re-nomination or re-election. (4) Where the term of three years is about to expire in respect of any member, a successor may benominated or elected at any time within three months before the said term expires, but, he shall notassume office until the said term has expired.