4. Establishment and constitution of the Tea Board.―(1) With effect from such date as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, there shall be established
for the purposes of this Act a Board to be called the Tea Board.
(2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a
common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to
contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
(3) The Board shall consist of a Chairman and such number of other members not exceeding forty as
the Central Government may think expedient, to be appointed by that Government by notification in the
Official Gazette from among persons who are in its opinion capable of representing,―
(a) owners of tea estates and gardens and growers of tea;
(b) persons employed in tea estates and gardens;
(c) manufacturers of tea;
(d) dealers including both exporters and internal traders of tea;
(e) consumers;
(f) Parliament;
(g) the Governments of the principal tea-growing States;
(h) such other persons or class of persons, who, in the opinion of the Central Government, ought
to be represented on the Board.
1
[(3A) It is hereby declared that the office of member of the Board shall not disqualify its holder for
being chosen as, or for being, a member of either House of Parliament.]
1. Ins. by Act 52 of 1954, s. 2 (w.e.f. 25-12-1954).
6
(4) The number of persons to be appointed as members from each of the categories specified in subsection (3), the term of office of, the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by, and
the manner of filling vacancies among, the members of the Board shall be such as may be prescribed.
(5) Any officer of the Central Government when deputed by that Government in this behalf shall have
the right to attend meetings of the Board and take part in the proceedings thereof but shall not be entitled
to vote.
5. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate acts and proceedings.―No act done or proceeding taken by the
Board under this Act shall be questioned on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or
defect in the constitution of the Board.
6. Salary and allowances of Chairman.―The Chairman shall be entitled to such salary and
allowances and such conditions of service in respect of leave, pension, provident fund and other matters
as may from time to time be fixed by the Central Government.
7. Vice-Chairman.―The Board shall elect from among its members a Vice-Chairman who shall
exercise such of the powers and discharge such of the duties of the Chairman as may be prescribed or as
may be delegated to him by the Chairman.
8. Executive and other Committees.―(1) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board
constituted in the manner prescribed.
(2) The Executive Committee shall exercise such of the powers and perform such of the duties of the
Board as may be prescribed, or as the Board may delegate to it.
(3) Subject to such control and restrictions as may be prescribed, the Board may constitute other
Standing Committee or ad hoc Committees for exercising any power or discharging any duty of the
Board or for enquiring into or reporting and advising on any matter which the Board may refer to them.
(4) A Standing Committee shall consist exclusively of members of the Board.
(5) An ad hoc committee may include persons who are not members of the Board, but their number
shall not exceed one half of its strength.
9. Secretary and staff.―(1) The Central Government shall appoint―
1
[(a) a Deputy Chairman to the Board who shall assist the Chairman in the performance of his
duties and exercise such of the powers and perform such of the duties as may be prescribed or as may
be delegated to him by the Board or by a Committee constituted by the Board under section 8 or by
the Chairman;
2
[(aa)] a Secretary to the Board who shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may
be prescribed or as may be delegated to him by the Board or the chairman.
(b) all other officers of the Board drawing 3
[a salary exceeding rupees one thousand seven
hundred per month.]
(2) Subject to such control and restrictions as may be prescribed, the Board may appoint such other
officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of its functions and pay them
such salaries and allowances as it may determine from time to time.
1. Ins. by Act 32 of 1977, s. 2 (w.e.f.12-8-1977).
2. Clause (a) re-lettered as clause (aa) by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f.12-8-1977).
3. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 12-8-1977).
7
(3) The Chairman, 1
[Deputy Chairman, Secretary and other employees] of the Board shall not
undertake any work unconnected with their duties under this Act except with the permission of the
Central Government.
10. Functions of the Board.―(1) It shall be the duty of the Board to promote, by such measures as it
thinks fit, the development under the control of the Central Government of the tea industry.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the measures referred to
herein may provide for―
(a) regulating the production and extent of cultivation of tea;
(b) improving the quality of tea;
(c) promoting co-operative efforts among growers and manufacturers of tea;
(d) undertaking, assisting or encouraging scientific, technological and economic research and
maintaining or assisting in the maintenance of demonstration farms and manufacturing stations;
(e) assisting in the control of insects and other pests and diseases affecting tea;
(f) regulating the sale and export of tea;
(g) training in tea testing and fixing grade standards of tea;
(h) increasing the consumption in India and elsewhere of tea and carrying on propaganda for that
purpose;
(i) registering and licensing of manufacturers, brokers, tea waste dealers and persons engaged in
the business of blending tea;
(j) improving the marketing of tea in India and elsewhere;
2
[(jj) subscribing to the share capital of, or entering into any agreement or other arrangement
(whether by way of partnership, joint venture or in any other manner) with, any body corporate for
the purpose of promoting the development of tea industry or for promotion and marketing of tea, in
India or elsewhere;
(k) collecting statistics from growers, manufacturers, dealers and such other persons as may be
prescribed on any matter relating to the tea industry; the publication of statistics so collected or
portions thereof or extracts therefrom;
(l) securing better working conditions and the provisions and improvement of amenities and
incentives for workers;
(m) such other matters as may be prescribed.
(3) The Board shall perform its functions under this section in accordance with and subject to such
rules as may be made by the Central Government.
11. Dissolution of the Board.―(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, direct that the Board shall be dissolved from such date and for such period as may be specified in
the notification.
(2) When the Board is dissolved under the provisions of sub-section (1)―
1. Subs. by Act 32 of 1977, s. 2, for “Secretary and other employees” (w.e.f. 12-8-1977).
2. Ins. by Act 68 of 1980, s. 2 (w.e.f. 27-12-1980).
8
(a) all members shall, from the date of dissolution, vacate their offices as such members;
(b) all powers and duties of the Board shall, during the period of dissolution, be exercised and
performed by such person or persons as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf;
(c) all funds and other property vested in the Board shall, during the period of dissolution, vest in
the Central Government; and
(d) as soon as the period of dissolution expires, the Board shall be reconstituted in accordance
with the provisions of this Act.