THE PONDICHERRY (EXTENSION OF LAWS) ACT, 1968


[Dated : July 30, 2024]

An Act to extend certain Central Acts to the Union territory of Pondicherry.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Nineteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. Short title.—This Act may be called the Pondicherry (Extension of Laws) Act, 1968.

  1. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) “Act” means an Act or the Ordinance specified in the Schedule;

    1. “Administrator” means the administrator of Pondicherry appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution;

    2. “Pondicherry” means the Union territory of Pondicherry.

3. Extension with amendments of certain laws to Pondicherry and their commencement therein.—(1) The Acts specified in Part I of the Schedule as they are generally in force in the territories to which they extend and the Acts specified in Part II of the Schedule as they were in force on the 1st day of August, 1966, in the State or Union territory mentioned there against shall extend to Pondicherry, subject to the modifications, if any, specified in the Schedule.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), or in the relevant provision, if any, of each such Act for the commencement thereof, the provisions of each such Act shall come into force in Pondicherry on such date as the Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:

Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of any Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of the Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.

4. Repeal and saving.—(1) Any law in force in Pondicherry or any area thereof corresponding to any Act referred to in sub-section (1) of section 3 or any part thereof (except in so far as such law continues to be applicable to Renoncants) shall stand repealed as from the coming into force of such Act in Pondicherry.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall effect—

  1. the previous operation of any law so repealed or anything duly done or suffered thereunder; or

  2. any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any law so repealed; or

  3. any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any law so repealed; or

  4. any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid,

and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed as if this Act has not been passed:

Provided that anything done or any action taken (including any appointment or delegation made, notification, instruction or direction issued, form, bye-law or scheme framed, certificate obtained, permit or licene granted, or registration effected) under any such law, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provision of the Act extended to Pondicherry by this Act and shall continue to be in force accordingly unless and until superseded by anything done or any action taken under the said Act.

             

  1. Extension of rules, orders, etc., under certain laws.—All rules, notifications, orders, regulations and bye-laws made or issued by the Central Government under the provisions of any Act generally for the territories to which such Act extends shall, as from the commencement of the provisions of such Act in Pondicherry, extend to, and come into force in, Pondicherry.

  2. Rules of construction.—(1) In any Act or in any of the rules, notifications, orders, regulations and bye-laws made or issued thereunder and extended to Pondicherry by this Act,—

    1. any reference to any provision of law not in force, or to any functionary not in existence, in Pondicherry shall be construed as a reference to the corresponding law in force, or to the corresponding functionary in existence, in that Union territory: Provided that—

      1. if any question arises as to who such corresponding functionary is, or

      2. if there is no such corresponding functionary, the Administrator shall decide as to who such functionary will be and his decision shall be final;

    2. any reference to the State Government shall be construed as a reference to the Central Government and also as including a reference to the Administrator.

(2) For the purpose of facilitating the application in relation to Pondicherry of any Act or any rule, notification, order, regulation or bye-law made or issued thereunder, any court or other authority may construe it in such manner, not affecting the substance, as may be necessary or proper to adapt it to the matter before the court or other authority.

7. Power to remove difficulties.—If any difficulty arises in giving effect in Pondicherry to the provisions of any Act extended by this Act to Pondicherry, the Central Government may, as occasion may require, by order, make such provisions or give such directions not inconsistent with the provisions of such Act as appear to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty and any such order may provide for the transfer of any matter pending before any court, tribunal or other authority immediately before the commencement of such Act in Pondicherry to any corresponding court, tribunal or authority for disposal:

Provided that no such order shall be made under this section in respect of any Act after the expiration of two years from the date on which such Act comes into force in Pondicherry and in respect of an Act, the provisions of which are brought into force in Pondicherry on different dates, the period of two years shall be reckoned with reference to the commencement of the relevant provision as specified in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 3.

THE SCHEDULE

[See section 3(1)]

PART I

Year

No.

Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

      1839       32 The Interest Act, 1839.                                  

1850             12 The Public Accountants‟ Default Act,        1850.

      1850       18 The Judicial Officers Protection Act, 1850.  

  1. 21 The Caste Disabilities Removal Act, 1850.  

  2. 8    The Indian Tolls Act, 1851.          

                

Year

No.

Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

1855       12      The Legal Representatives‟ Suits                  

Act, 1855.

1855 13      The Indian Fatal Accidents Act, 1855.      

1856 9        The Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856.       

1856       12      The Civil Courts Amins Act, 1856.               

1859       9        The Forfeiture Act, 1859.                             

  1. 23      The Waste Lands (Claims) Act, 1863.       

  2. 15      The Indian Tolls Act, 1864.          1865   3          The Carriers Act, 1865.        

1866       21      The Converts‟ Marriage Dissolution           After section 1, insert:—

                              Act, 1866.                                           “2. Nothing contained in this Act shall

apply to saving the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1872       9        The Indian Contract Act, 1872.                     

  1. 15      The Indian Christian Marriage  In section 1, at the end, insert:—

Act, 1872. “Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1873 10      The Indian Oaths Act, 1873.         

1875       9        The Indian Majority Act, 1875.                   In section 1, at the end insert:—

“Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1880       1        The Religious Societies Act, 1880.                

1880       12      The Kazis Act, 1880.                                   

1880       13       The Vaccination Act, 1880.                          

1882       4        The Transfer of Property Act, 1882.              

1882       5        The Indian Easements Act, 1882.                  

1882    7          The Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882.              1887   7          The Suits Valuation Act, 1887.              

1887               9          The Provincial Small Cause Courts Act,          1887.

1890       1        The Revenue Recovery Act, 1890.                

                

Year

   No.                           Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

1890

8

The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.

In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:—

“Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.” 

1891

18

The Bankers‟ Books Evidence Act, 1891.

 

1893

4

The Partition Act, 1893.

 

1894

9

The Prisons Act, 1894.

 

1897

3

The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

 

1899

4

The Government Buildings Act, 1899.

 

1900

3

The Prisoners Act, 1900.

 

1908

16

The Indian Registration Act, 1908.

 

1914

9

The Local Authorities Loans Act, 1914.

 

1916

15

The Hindu Disposition of Property  Act, 1916.

In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:—

“Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1917

5

The Destruction of Records Act, 1917.

 

1918

10

The Usurious Loans Act, 1918.

 

1919

12

The Poisons Act, 1919.

 

1920

5

The Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920.

 

1920

10

The Indian Securities Act, 1920.

 

1920

15

The indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920.

 

1920

33

The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920.

 

1921

18

The Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act, 1921.

 

1922

7

The Emigration Act, 1922.

 

1922

22

The Police(incitement to Disaffection)Act, 1922.

 

1923

5

The Indian Boilers Act, 1923.

 

1928

12

The Hindu Inheritance (Removal of Disabilities) Act, 1928.

In section 1, in sub-section (3), add at the end:—

“or to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

                

Year

No.                          Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

 

 

 

 

  1. 19      The Child Marriage Restraint     In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:—

Act, 1929. “Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

  1. 3        The Sale of Goods Act, 1930.       

1930        30      The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930.  

  1. 3        The Parsi Marriage and Divorce             In section 1, in sub-section (2), after the

                               Act, 1936.                                              proviso, insert:—

“Provided further that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

  1. 26      The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat),      In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:

                               Application Act, 1937.                       Provided that nothing contained in this

Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1939        8        The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages         In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:—

                               Act, 1939.                                          Provided that nothing contained in this

Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

  1. 30      The Commercial Documents Evidence     

Act, 1939.

  1. 10      The Arbitration Act, 1940.           1943   9          The Reciprocity Act, 1943.               

  1. 38      The Criminal Law Amendment   

Ordinance, 1944.

  1. ... The International Monetary Fund and   Bank Act,1945.

1947               43         The United Nations(Security Council)            Act, 1947.

  1. 46      The United Nations (Privileges and          

Immunities) Act, 1947.

  1. 41      The Diplomatic and Consular Officers      (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948.

1950        29       The Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950.          

                

Year

No.

Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

1950

64

The Road Transport Corporations                

Act, 1950.

 

1950

74

The Telegraph Wires (Unlawful                    

Possession) Act, 1950.

 

1951

50

The Tariff Commission Act, 1951.                

 

1951

54

The Companies (Donations to National   Funds) Act, 1951.

 

1951

61

The All-India Services Act, 1951.                 

 

1952

35

The Mines Act, 1952.                                   

 

1952

53

The Notaries Act, 1952.                                

 

1954

29

The Wakf Act, 1954.                                    

 

1955

32

The Prisoners (Attendance in Courts)    Act, 1955.

 

1955

42

The Prize Competitions Act, 1955.                

 

1955

45

The Working Journalists (Conditions of   Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions  Act, 1955.

 

1956

3

The University Grants Commission              

Act, 1956.

 

1956

31

The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956.  

 

1956

32

The Hindu Minority and Guardianship        In section 3, after sub-section (2), insert:—

Act, 1 956.                                                  (2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in

“ sub-section (1), nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1956

42

The Securities Contracts (Regulation)       Act, 1956.

1956

78

The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance       In section 2, after sub-section (2), insert:—

Act, 1956.                                                       (2A) Notwithstanding anything contained

“ in sub-section (1), nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.”.

1956

93

The Young Persons (Harmful Publications)   Act, 1956.

                

Year

No.

Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

1956

96

The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956.

 

1956

104

The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956.

 

1958

20

The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958.

 

1958

21

The Rice-Milling Industry (Regulation) Act, 1958.

 

1958

29

The Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958.

 

1958

42

The International Finance Corporation (Status, Immunities and Privileges)  Act, 1958.

 

1960

6

The Geneva Conventions Act, 1960.

 

1960

32

The International Development Association (Status, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1960.

 

1960

63

The Preference Shares (Regulation of Dividends) Act, 1960.

In section 1, after sub-section (2), insert:—

“(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act shall, in their application to the Union territory of Pondicherry, have effect subject to the modifications specified in the Schedule.”.

After section 7, add:—

THE SCHEDULE

[See section 1(3)]

Modifications of the Act in its application to the Union territory of Pondicherry

  1. Sections 3 and 4 shall be omitted.

  2. In section 4A, for the words, brackets, letters and figures “twenty-seven and a half per cent. of the aggregate of (i) the stipulated dividend, and (ii) an amount equal to eleven per cent. of the stipulated dividend as specified in sub-section (3) of section 3”, the following shall be substituted, namely:—

“twenty-seven and a half per cent. of the stipulated dividend:

Provided that in a case where the preference shares in respect of which dividend is declared or paid from part of the preference share capital of a company which, in respect

                

Year        No.                            Short title                                                  Modifications

     1           2                                    3                                                                 4

   of the greater part of its total income, is entitled to a deduction from the tax chargeable from it under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), under a notification issued by the Central Government under section 294A of that Act, the reference to twenty-seven and a half per cent. of the stipulated dividend shall be construed as a reference to—

  1. where the stipulated dividend in respect of such preference share is declared or paid in respect of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1965, the said twenty-seven and a half per cent. asreduced by forty-five per cent. thereof;

  2. where such dividend is declared or paid in respect of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1966, the said twenty-seven and a half per cent. as reduced by twenty-five per cent. thereof;

  3. wheresuch dividend is declared or paid in respect of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1967, or the 1st day of April, 1968, or the 1st day of April, 1969, the said twentyseven and a half per cent. as reduced by ten per cent. thereof.

 

 

 

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that any reference in this section to deduction made from a dividend on account of the income-tax payable by the company does not include any amount deducted by the company from that dividend under section 194 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).”.

  1. In section 5, sub-section (2) shall be omitted.

  2. Section 6 shall be omitted.‟.

1961

 

25

 

The Advocates Act, 1961

 

In section 3. in sub-section (1),— (1) in clause (a), omit, “Madras”;

(2) re-letter clause (cc) (inserted by Regulation 8 of 1963) as clause (ccc) and before the clause as so re-lettered, insert:— “(cc) for the State of Madras and the Union territory of Pondicherry to be known as the Bar Council of Madras.”.

After Section 58A, insert :—

“58AA. Special Provisions in relation to the

Union Territory of Pondicherry.—

 

Year

No.

Short title

Modifications

1

2

3

4

 

 

 

  1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, all persons who, immediately before the date on which the provisions of Chapter III are brought into force in the Union territory of Pondicherry, were entitled to practise the profession of law (whether by way of pleading or acting or both) under any law in force in the said Union territory or who would have been so entitled had they not been in public service on the said date, shall for the purposes of clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 17, be deemed to be persons who were entered as advocates on the roll of a High Court under the Indian Bar Councils Act, 1926, (38 of 1926) and every such person may, on an application made in this behalf within such time as may be specified by the Bar Council of Madras, be admitted as an advocate on the State roll maintained in respect of the said Union territory.

  2. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, every person who, immediately before the date on which the provisions of Chapter IV are brought into force in the Union territory of Pondicherry, was practising the profession of law (whether by way of pleading or acting or both or in any other way) by virtue of the provisions of any law in force in the said Union territory, who

does not elect to be or is not qualified to be,

enrolled as an advocate under  sub-section (1), shall, notwithstanding the repeal of the relevant provisions of such law by the Pondicherry (Extension of Laws) Act, 1968, continue to enjoy the same rights as respects practice in any court or revenue office or before any authority or person andbe subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the same authority which he enjoyed, or, as the case may be, to which he was subject, immediately before the said date and accordingly the relevant provisions of the law aforesaid shall have effect in relation to such persons as if they had not been repealed.”

1961

28

The Dowry Prohibition Act, 196l.

 

1961

45

The Foreign Awards (Recognition and Enforcement) Act, 1961.

 

 

PART II

Year

No.

Short title

In force in a State  or a Union

Territory

Modifications

1

2

3

4

5

1870

7

The Court-fees  Act, 1870.

As in force in the

Union territory of

Andaman and  Nicobar Islands  on the 1st day of August, 1966.

In section 2, for clause (b), substitute:—

„(b) “State Government” in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry means the administrator thereof.‟.

1899

2

The Indian Stamp Act, 1899.

As in force in the  State of Madras on  the 1st day of

August, 1966.

In section 2, after clause (25), insert:—

(26) “State Government” in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry means the administrator thereof.‟.

In section 3, omit the first and second provisos.

In section 19A,—

  1. for “Presidency of Madras”, substitute “Union territory of Pondicherry”;

  2. for“Presidency” substitute “Union territory”.

In section 57, in sub-section (1), omit “and” at the end of clause (d) and after clause (e) insert: —

“(ee) if it arises in the Union territory of Pondicherry, to the High Court of Madras.”. 

In section 75 A, for sub-section (2), substitute :—

“(2) Every rule made under this Act shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before the Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the rule or decides that any such rule should not be made, that 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 after under that rule.”.

 

Year

No.

Short title

In force in a State  or a Union

Territory

Modifications

1

2

3

4

5

 

 

 

 

In Schedule 1—

  1. in entry 9, omit the Exemption;

  2. in entry 15, for “Madras Courtfees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 (Madras Act XIV of 1955)”, substitute

“Court-fees Act, 1870 (7 of 1870)”;

  1. omit entry 20A;

  2. in entry 62, in clause (d), for

“Administrator General‟s Act, 1913

(Central Act III of 1913), section 25”, substitute“Administrators-General 

Act, 1963 (45 of 1963), section 22.”.

1908

 

5               The Code of

                 Civil Procedure,

1908

 

As in force in the

State of 

Madras on the 

1st day of 

August, 1966.

After section 45, insert :—

  “45A. Execution of decrees, etc., passed or made before the commencement of the Code in Pondicherry.—Any judgment, decree or order passed or made before the commencement of this Code by any civil court in the Union territory of Pondicherry shall, for the purpose of execution, be deemed to have been passed or made under this Code:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall be construed as extending the period of limitation to which any proceeding in respect of such judgment, decree or order may be subject.”.