The Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Act, 1967

THE PUNJAB CATTLE FAIRS (REGULATION) ACT, 1967 

(Punjab Act No. 6 of 1968) 

  Received the assent of the Governor of Punjab on the 19th February, 
1968, and was first published in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extra ordinary), 
Legislative Supplement, Part I of the 24th February, 1968.) 

AN  

ACT  

                  to regulate the holding of cattle fairs. 

  BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the 
Eighteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 

  1. This Act may be called the Punjab Cattle Fairs 
(Regulation) Act, 1967. 

 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 

(a) ‘broker’ means a person who strikes a bargain between a 
seller and a purchaser of cattle, in any cattle fair, on payment of 
commission; 

(b) ‘cattle’ includes a buffalo, camel, cow, donkey, elephant, goat, horse, mule, 
sheep, pig and their young-ones and such other animals as the State 
Government may be notification specify; 

'[(bb) 'cattle fair' means a gathering of  more than twenty-five persons for 
the purpose of general sale, purchase or exhibition for general sale or 
purchase of cattle;] 2 [and includes   cattle  market]; 
3 
[(bbb) 'cattle market' means a place where the business of sale or purchase 

of cattle is regularly  conducted;] 

(c) ‘Deputy Commissioner’ includes an Additional Deputy Commissioner and such 
other officer as the State Government may by notification appoint for the 
purpose of exercising the powers and performing the functions of a Deputy 
Commissioner under this Act; 

(d) ‘fair area’ means such area within a district as may be specified by a fair 
officer for the purpose of holding a cattle fair; 

(e) ‘fair officer’ in relation to any fair area means an officer appointed under 
section 4 for such area; 

(f) ‘prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

3.(1) The right to hold a cattle fair at any place in the State of Punjab and to 
control, manage and regulate such fair shall vest exclusively in the State 
Government and shall be exercisable by it, in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act  and the rules made thereunder, through such 
person or authorities as it may deem fit. 

 

 

  

Short title 

 

Definitions 

Bar on holding 
etc. of cattle 
fairs except by 
or under 
authority of 
State 
Government 



 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 

in force and save as provided by sub-section (1), it shall be unlawful for 

any person or local authority to hold, control, manage or regulate a cattle 

fair at any place in the State of Punjab. 

Fair Officers and 

their duties, etc. 

4. (1) There shall be appointed by the State Government or by the Deputy 

Commissioner, if so authorised by it, one or more fair officers for the 

purpose of holding, controlling, managing and regulating cattle fairs in a 

district. 

(2) Subject to the direction, control and supervision of the  State 

Government or of the Deputy Commissioner, if so authorized by it, a 

fair officer shall be responsible for making arrangements in respect of 

all matters connected with the holding of cattle fair and its proper 

control, management and regulation and shall also have the powers of- 

(i) defining the fair area; 

(ii) reservation of sites or places for latrines, urinals, bath, shops, 

exhibitions, shows, demonstrations, foot-paths for animals, water- 

supply for drinking purposes, shelters, green and dry fodder, 

entertainments and similar other purposes necessary in connection with 

the cattle fair; 

(iii) allotment of sites temporarily for commercial or other purposes in 

connection with the cattle fair, authorization of raising of structures 

on such sites, and fixation of rents for such sites in the prescribed 

manner; 

(iv) arrangements for watch and ward, lighting, medical first-aid, 

veterinary aid, sanitation , tentage and other facilities as may be 

necessary in connection with the cattle fair; 

(v) construction of temporary offices for the purpose of collecting taxes and 

fees imposed and levied in connection with the cattle fair. Power of State 

Government to 

impose taxes in fair 

areas. 

5. The State Government may, in such manner and at such rates as may be 

prescribed, impose in a fair area during the continuance of a cattle fair- 

(a) tolls on vehicles entering such area for business purposes; and 

(b) octroi duty on goods brought for sale within such area: 



 

Provided that no such duty shall be imposed if the goods have already been 

subjected to the levy of such duty at the time of their entry into the 

limits of the local authority in which the fair area is situate. 

Exclusion of 

jurisdiction of local 

authorities to 

impose tax, etc. 

6. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 

in force, no local authority shall be competent to impose any tax or fee 

in any fair area in connection with a cattle fair during the continuance 

of the fair. 

Duty of local 

authorities to assist 

fair officers. 

7. Every local authority, within whose jurisdictional limits a fair area or a 

part thereof is situated, shall render to the fair officer, for the purposes 

of holding, controlling, managing or regulating a cattle fair in such 

area, such assistance as may be required of it by the fair officer in 

connection with the cattle fair. 

8. (1) No person shall sell cattle at a cattle fair unless he has obtained a 

registration certificate in respect of such cattle in such manner, on payment 

of such fee and from such authority, as may be prescribed. 

(2) Every person purchasing cattle at a cattle fair shall obtain in respect of such 

cattle a sale certificate in such manner, on payment of such fee and from 

such authority, as may be prescribed. 

         Levy of fees 

9. (1) No person shall act as a broker in any fair area unless he is granted in 

respect of such area a licence on such terms and conditions as may be 

specified therein. 

    Licensing       

of brokers. 

(2) A licence referred to in sub-section (1) shall be in such from, and shall be 

issued in such manner, on payment of such fee and by such authority, as 

may be prescribed. 

(3) No broker shall be entitled to claim from the seller or the purchaser or both 

a commission in respect of the sale or purchase of cattle at a cattle fair at a 

rate exceeding in the aggregate one percentum of the price of the cattle 

sold. 



(4) If the fair officer is satisfied that the holder of a broker's license has 

violated any of the terms and conditions of the license or has contravened 

any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he may, 

after giving to the broker a reasonable opportunity of being heard, suspend 

or cancel his license. 

(5) An order suspending or canceling a broker's licence shall be revisable by 

the Deputy Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed. 

10 . (1) No person shall- 

(a) bring within a fair area any cattle suffering from any contagious or 

infectious disease; or 

(b) obstruct the sale or purchase of cattle or unduly interfere therewith or 

misguide brokers, sellers or purchasers within the fair area or cause loss to 

the income of the cattle fair by unfair means. 

(2) The fair officer shall have power- 

 (a) to prohibit the entry in the fair area of any cattle referred to in clause (a) 

of sub-section (1) or cause to be driven out of such area such cattle; 

(b) to get the cattle in the fair area immunised, if necessary; 

(c) to isolate any diseased cattle; 

(b) to arrange for the disposal of dead cattle in fair area; and 

(e) in addition to any other penalty to which such person may be liable under 

this Act to expel from the fair area any person contravening the provisions 

of clause (d) of sub-section (1). 

(1) For the purposes of complying with the provisions of sub-section (2), the 

fair officer may use such force as may be necessary. 

Outbreak of fire. 11. In the event of an outbreak of fire, the fair officer may 

order the demolition of any structure, if in his opinion 

its demolition is necessary or expedient for preventing the 

fire from spreading, and no suit or other  proceeding shall 

lie for an act done or purporting to be done in good faith 

under this section. 

 Power to 

prohibit entry of 

certain persons 

and cattle in fair 

area. 

Power to remove 

unauthorised 

construction. 

12.   The   fair   officer   may,   in   a   fair   area,   remove   any 

unauthorised construction and the cost of such removal 



may be recovered from the person making the 

construction, as arrears of land revenue, if such persons 

fails to make payment of such cost on a written demand by 

the fair officer. 

Ejectment 

of 

allottees. 

13. (1) The fair officer may, in a fair area order the ejectment 

of any person from the site allotted to him, if such person 

contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules 

made thereunder. 

(2) If ,any person fails without reasonable cause to comply 

with an order made under sub-section (1), the fair officer 

may take possession of the site and may for that 

purpose use 

such force as may be necessary. Summary 

proceedings 

against persons. 

14. (1) If the fair officer shall at any time have reason to 

believe that any person, from whom any sum recoverable 

is due under the provisions of this Act, is about to remove 

himself from the fair area, the fair officer may cause a bill 

for the sum due to be presented to such person and 

demand immediate payment thereof. 

(2) If, on presentation of such bill, the said person does not 

forthwith pay the sum due, the amount shall be recovered 

by distress and sale in the prescribed manner of cattle or 

other moveable property in the possession of such person. 

(3) Where any sum due from any person cannot be recovered 

under sub section (2) or has been recovered only partially, 

such sum or the balance thereof, as the case may be, may 

be recovered as arrears of land revenue if such person fails 

to make payment thereof on a written demand by the fair 

officer. 

deposit of 

intitial 

expenses. 

15. (1) The State Government may or the Deputy 

Commissioner,  if  so  authorised  by  it,  shall  direct  the 

Panchayat  Samiti  or  Municipal  Committee,  as  the  case 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle Fair 

Fund. 

may be, in whose jurisdiction the fair is to be held to 

deposit in the Cattle Fair Fund the prescribed amount, 

not exceeding one thousand rupees, to cover the initial 

expenses of the fair and the local authority to whom the 

direction is given shall comply with the same. 

(2) In the event of the Panchayat Samiti or Municipal 

Committee failing to comply with the directions issued 

under sub-section (1) the State Government shall have the 

power to declare the prescribed amount as a fit and proper 

charge on the Samiti Fund or Municipal Fund, as the case 

may be. 

16. (1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called 

"The Cattle Fair Fund" to which shall be credited the 

following, namely:- 

(a) all fees, rents or other sums of money (not being tolls and 

taxes) received or realized under the provisions of this Act 

or the rules made thereunder ;and 

(b)  all donations or grants made to the Fund by the State 

Government, a local authority or any other person. 

(2) The Cattle Fair Fund shall be kept in such Government 

treasury or sub-treasury as may be specified by the State 

Government. 

17. The Cattle Fair Fund shall be operated in such manner and to such extent 

by such authority as the State Government or the Deputy Commissioner if 

so authorised by it, may, by order in writing direct and shall be applicable 

for the purposes of payment, in whole or in part, of all charges and 

expenses incidental to the matters specified in this Act and the rules 

made thereunder, including the following purposes, namely:- 

(a) all expenses necessary for the holding, controlling, 

managing or regulation of cattle fairs and for matters 

connected therewith or incidental thereto; 

(b) payment of salaries and allowances of persons employed in 

connection with the cattle fair; 

 Application 
of Cattle Fair 
Fund. 



 

(c) payment of fees for the auditing of accounts of the Fund 

by such auditors and at such rate as the State Government 

may determine; 

(d) reimbursement to any local authority of any expenditure 

incurred or of advances made by it for the purpose of 

holding a cattle fair; 

(e) allocation to local authorities in such proportion as the State 

Government may consider fit, for the development of 

cattle or animal husbandry or such other purposes as the 

State Government may think fit; or 

(f) such other purposes as the State Government may, by 

written order, direct. 

                18. (1) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub section (2)         

of section 3 shall- 

(a) for the first offence, be punishable with imprisonment 

which may extend to six months or with fine which may 

extend to two thousand rupees or with both; and 

(b) for a second or subsequent offence be punishable with 

imprisonment which may extend to three years or with 

fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with 

both: 

Provided that in the case of second or subsequent 

offence, in the absence of special and adequate reasons 

to be mentioned in the judgment of the court, such 

imprisonment shall not be less than one year and such fine 

shall not be less than two thousand rupees.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Penalities 

 

(2) Any person who contravenes the provision of section 8 or sub-section (1) or 

sub-section (3) of section 9 or sub-section (1) of section 10 or of the rules 

made under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may 

extend to one month or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees 

or with both. 

 

19. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 



 

 19. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal 

Procedure, 1898, an offence , punishable under sub-section (1) of section 

18 shall be cognizable and non-bailable.  

(2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable 

under sub-section (2) of section 18 except on a complaint 

made in writing by the fair officer or any other officer not 

below the rank of a Gazetted officer authorised by the 

Deputy Commissioner in this behalf. 

(3) An offence punishable under sub-section (2) of section 18 

may be tried in a summary manner. 

Composition     20. The fair officer may accept from any person charged with 

an offence punishable under sub-section (2) of section 18 

by way of composition of the offence a sum of money not 

exceeding five hundred rupees and on such payment such 

person, if in custody, shall be set at liberty and the 

composition shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and 

in no case shall any further proceeding be taken against 

such person in respect of the same offence. 

Power to make 

regulations. 

21. The fair officer may, subject to the rules made under this 

Act and with the approval of the State Government, make 

regulations to provide generally against the outbreak or 

spread of fire and particularly for the following purposes, 

namely :- 

(i) safety of buildings and structures put up in the fair area; 

(ii) laying down conditions on which huts and other structures 

may be constructed, including limits to the heights of such 

huts or structures and the areas on which they are to be 

built distances between them; 

(iii) providing for the supply of water; 

(iv) restricting the use of fire for cooking or for any other 

purpose and taking precautions against spread of fire. 

Power to make 22.  (1) The State Government may by notification make rules 

 

Cognizance 

of offences.  



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 following matters 

namely :- 

(a) the manner in which sites shall be allotted temporarily for 

commercial or other purposes in connection with the cattle 

fair and the rents thereof shall be fixed under clause (iii) of 

sub-section (2) of section 4; 

(b) the manner in which and the rate at which tolls and taxes 

shall be imposed, assessed and collected; 

(c) the manner in which, the fee on payment of which and the 

authority by which registration certificates and sale 

certificates shall be issued under section 8; 

(d) the form and manner in which, the payment of fee on 

which and the authority by which licenses referred to in 

sub-section (2) of section 9 shall be issued; 

(e) the manner in which and the fee on payment of which the 

Deputy Commissioner shall revise an order of suspension 

or cancellation of a broker's license under sub-section (5) 

of section 9; 

(f) the manner in which distress and sale of animals or movable 

property shall be made under sub-section (2) of section14; 

(g) the amount for the deposit of which direction may be given 

under section 15; 

(h) the manner in which the Cattle Fair Fund shall be 

constituted and matters connected with the proper 

administration of such Fund; 

(i) sanitation and control of diseases in a fair area ; and 

(j) any other purpose for which rules are required to be or may 

be made. 



(3) Every rules made under this action shall be laid as soon as may be after it is 

made before 

each. House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of 

ten days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions; 

and if before the expiry of the session in which lit is so laid or the session 

immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the 

rule of both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the 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 under that rule. 

23. The provisions of this Act shall have effect, notwithstanding any thing 

inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force. 

 

24. (1) The Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Ordinance, 1967 (Punjab 

Ordinance No.14 of 1967), is hereby repealed. 

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the 

said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act as if 

this act had come into force on the 4
th 

day of November, 1967 

 

Act to 

override 

other laws 

   Repeal and 

saving