Calcutta Tramways Company Act, 1976

Section 1

This Act may be called the Calcutta Tramways Company (Acquisition of Undertaking) Act, 1976.

Section 2

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "appointed day" means the 8th day of November, 1976; (b) "Company" means the Calcutta Tramways Company Limited; (c) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

Section 3

On and from the appointed day, the undertaking of the Company shall, by virtue of this Act, be transferred to, and vest in, the State Government.

Section 4

1) The undertaking of the Company shall be deemed to include the properties, cash balances, reserve funds and other assets of the Company including lands, buildings, works, machinery, plants, rolling stocks, lines, mains, motors, dynamos, switch-boards, apparatus, tools, implements, motor trucks and other like property which may be in the ownership, possession, custody or control of the Company in relation to its undertaking, immediately before the appointed day and all books of accounts, registers and all other documents of whatever nature relating thereto. Explanation.—For the avoidance of doubts, it is hereby declared that the expression "undertaking of the Company" does not include— (a) any debt due to the Company; and (b) any amount recoverable by the Company from its share-holders or directors. (2) All properties included as aforesaid in the undertraking of the Company which has vested in the State Government under section 3 shall, by force of such vesting, be freed and discharged from any trusts, obligations, mortgages, charges and other encumbrances affecting them, and any attachment, injunction or any decree or order of any court restricting the use of any such property in any manner shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. (3) Any contract, whether express or implied, or other ‘ arrangement whether under any statute or otherwise, in so far as it relates to the affairs of the Company in relation to its undertaking and in force immediately before the appointed day shall be deemed to have terminated on the appointed day. (4) If on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding, of whatever nature, in relation to any business of the undertaking of the Company is pending by or against the Company, the same shall not abate, be discontinued or be in any way prejudicially affected by reason of the transfer of the undertaking of the Company or of anything contained in this Act and the suit, appeal or other proceeding may be continued, proceeded with and enforced by or against the Company. (5) Every person in whose possession or custody or under whose control the undertaking of the Company or any part of it may be, immediately before the appointed day, shall, on the appointed day, deliver the possession of the said undertaking or part thereof to the State Government or to such person as may be specified by the State Government in this behalf. (6) The State Government may take, or cause to be taken, all necessary steps for securing the possession of the undertaking of the Company which has vested in it under section 3.

Section 5

The undertaking of the Company which has vested in the and State Government under section 3, shall be managed on behalf of the State Government by such person as may be appointed by the State Government in this behalf in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.

Section 6

(1) The State Government shall deposit, in cash, in the Court of the Chief Judge of the City Civil Court, Calcutta, to the credit of the Company, an amount equal to the sum of rupees two crores and eighteen lakhs for the transfer to, and vesting in, the State Government, under section 3 of the undertaking of the Company. (2) For the avoidance of doubts, it is hereby declared that the liabilities of the Company in relation to its undertaking which has vested in the State Government under section 3, shall be met from the amount referred to in sub-section (1). (3) In meeting the liabilities of the Company in relation to its undertaking which has vested in the State Government under section 3, the Court shall distribute the amount referred to in subsection (1) amongst the creditors of the Company, whether secured or unsecured, in accordance with their rights and interests, and if there is any surplus left after such distribution, amongst the contributories of the Company in accordance with the rights and interests of such contributories.

Section 7

1) 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 State Government, or (b) wrongfully obtains possession of any property forming part of the undertaking of the Company which has vested in the State Government under section 3, or (c) wilfully withholds or fails to furnish to the State Government any document in relation to the undertaking of the Company which may be in his possession, custody or control, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both: Provided that the court trying any offence under clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of this sub-section may at the time of convicting the accused person, order him to deliver up or refund within a time to be fixed by the court any property wrongfully withheld or wrongfully obtained or any document wilfully withheld or not furnished. (2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this section except with the previous sanction of the State Government or of an officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf.

Section 8

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 due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and if 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.

Section 9

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government or an officer or other employee serving in connection with the affairs of the undertaking of the Company for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

Section 10

1) Every person employed in connection with the undertaking of the Company who has been in such employment immediately before the appointed day, shall continue to hold office after the appointed day with the same rights as to pay, leave, pension, gratuity and all other matters, unless and until his employment in such undertaking is terminated or until his remuneration or other terms and conditions of employment are altered by the State Government in accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 or in any other law for the time being in force, the transfer of the service of any employee from the undertaking of the Company to any other post shall not entitle such employee to any compensation under this Act or any other law for the time being in force and no claim for such compensation shall be entertained by any court, tribunal or other authority.

Section 11

The State Government may, by notification, direct that all or any of the powers exercisable by it by or under any of the provisions of this Act may also be exercised by such other persons as may be specified in the notification.

Section 12

The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other enactment or in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any enactment other than this Act.

Section 13

(1) The State Government may, by notification published in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes 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 matters which may be, or are required to be, prescribed.

Section 14

(1) The Calcutta Tramways Company (Acquisition of Undertaking) Ordinance, 1976, is hereby repealed. (2) Any rule or order made, any notification issued, anything done or any action taken under the Calcutta Tramways Company (Acquisition of Undertaking) Ordinance, 1976, shall be deemed to have been validly made, issued, done or taken under this Act as if this Act had commenced on the 8th day of November, 1976.