THE UNITED PROVINCES VETERINARY COUNCIL ACT, 1947

  

2 
 

THE UNITED PROVINCES VETERINARY COUNCIL 

ACT, 19471 

 (U. P. Act  no. XX OF 1947) 

Amended by  

U. P. Act XXX of 1956 

Adapted and modified by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950 

[Passed by the United Provinces Legislative Assembly on  

April 9, 1947 and by the United Provinces Legislative Council on May 

26, 1947. Received the assent of the Governor of the United 

Provinces on July 20, 1947, under section 75 of the Government of 

India Act, 1935 and was published in the United Provinces 

Government Gazette on August 2, 1947] 

AN 

AСТ 

to provide for the Registration of Veterinary Practitioners in the 

United Provinces 

Preamble WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the registration of 

Veterinary practitioners in the United Provinces: 

 IT is hereby enacted as follows: 

 PRELIMINARY 

Short title 

and extent 

1. (1) This Act may be called the United Provinces Veterinary 

Council Act, 1947. 

(2) It extends2 to the whole of [Uttar Pradesh]3. 

Definition 2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject 

or context,- 

(a) "Council" means the Veterinary Council established under 

section 3; 

(b) "Hospital" means institutions, where animals are treated by 

methods approved by the Council; 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. For S. O. R. see Gazette 1947, Pt. VII, pp 24-28. 

2. This Act has been extended to the areas mentioned in column I of this table under the Act or Oder 

mentioned in column 2 and enforced in such areas under notification, if any, mentioned in column 3 with 

effect from the date mentioned in column 4 against each area. 

Areas  Act or Order under which 

extended 

Notification, if any 

under which enforced 

Date from which 

enforced 

1 2 3 4 

1.  Rampur   

District 

Rampur (Application of Laws) 

Act 1950, 

.. Dec. 30, 1949 

2. Banaras 

District 

Banaras (Application of Laws) 

Order, 1949.   

3262 (i) XVII-Merge 

dated Nov. 30, 1949. 

Nov. 30, 1949 

3. Tehri  Garhwal 

District 

Tehri-Garhwal (Application of 

Laws) Order, 1949.   

3262 (2) XVII-Merge 

dated Nov. 30, 1949. 

Nov. 30, 1949 

 

3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for (the United Provinces). 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

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 (c) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

 (d) "Registered Practitioner" means any person registered under 

the provisions of this Act. 

UTTAR PRADESH VETERINARY COUNCIL 

Establishment 

of the Uttar 
Pradesh 
Veterinary 

Council 

3. There shall be established a Council called [Uttar Pradesh]1 

"Veterinary Council" and such Council shall be a body corporate having 

perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name 

sue and be sued. 

Constitution 
or  Council 

4. (1) The said Council shall consist of thirteen members 

appointed in the following manner, namely:– 

(a) a President to be nominated by the [State Government]2  

(b) five members to be nominated by the [State 

Government]2; 

(c) three members to be elected by Veterinary practitioners 

residing in the [Uttar Pradesh]3 and registered under this Act, 

or, in the case of the first election, qualified to be so registered; 

(d) one member to be elected by the Executive Council of 

the University to which the [State]3 Veterinary College may be 

affiliated;  

(e) two members to be elected by the [Uttar Pradesh]1 

Legislative Assembly and one by the [Uttar Pradesh]1 Legislative 

Council. 

Nomination 

of members 
in Default of 
election 

5. If the electoral body referred to in section 4 does not in the 

case of vacancy referred to in section 10, within three months and, in 

any other case, by such date as may be prescribed by rules made in 

that behalf under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section [35]4, elect a 

person to be a member of the Council, the [State Government]2 shall 

nominate a member in his place, and a person so nominated shall be 

deemed to be a member as if he had been duly elected by such body. 

Publication of 

names of 
members 

6. The name of every person elected or nominated under 

section 4 or 5 shall be published by the [State Government]2 in the 

official Gazette. 

Leave of 
absence to 
members 

7. The Council may permit a member to absent himself from 

the meetings of the Council for a period not exceeding six months. 

Occurrence 
of casual 
vacancies 

8. (1) A member of the Council shall be deemed to have vacated 

his seat who— 

(a) fails to accept office within one month of the date of his 

nomination or election; or 

(b) is absent without excuse sufficient in the opinion of the 

Council, "from" three consecutive meetings of the Council; or  

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by the ‘‘A.O.’’ 1950 for (the United Provinces). 

2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for (Provisional Government). 
3. Subs. by ibid for (Provincial). 
4. Subs. by Sl. 4 of Sch. to S. 3 of U.P. ‘‘Act XXX’’ of 1956. 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

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 (c) is absent out of India for a period exceeding six consecutive 

months. 

(2) On the occurrence of a vacancy referred to in sub-section 

(1), the President shall forthwith report the fact of such vacancy to the 

[State Government]1. 

Filling of 

casual 
vacancies 

9. If a member of the Council dies or resigns his membership, 

or ceases to be a member as provided in sub-section (1) of section 8, the 

vacancy shall be filled within three months by a fresh election or 

nomination, as the case may be. 

Term of 

office of 
members 

10. (1) The term of office of a member of the Council shall be 

three years from the date of his acceptance of office. 

(2) A person ceasing to be a member by reason of the expiration 

of his term of office shall be eligible for re-election or renomination. 

Quorum and 
voting 

11. (1) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the 

Council unless a quorum of six members be present.  

(2) In the absence of the President at a meeting some other 

member, to be chosen from among the members present, shall act as 

Président. 

(3) Save as otherwise provided in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of 

section 26, all questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by the 

votes of the majority of the members present and voting, or, in the case 

of an equality of votes, by the casting vote of the President, or, in his 

absence, of the member presiding at the meeting. 

(4) No act or proceeding of the Council shall be deemed invalid 

merely by reason of a vacancy in the Council or of a defect in the 

election or nomination of a person acting as a member of the Council. 

Regulations to 
meetings 

12. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any rules 

made by the [State Government]1 under this Act, the Council may make 

regulations in respect of- 

(a) the time and place at which such meetings shall be held; 

(b) the issue of notices convening such meetings; and 

(c) the conduct of business threat. 

(2) Until such time as the regulations referred to in sub-section 

(1) have come into operation, it shall be lawful for the President to 

summon a meeting at such time and place as to him shall seem 

expedient, by letter addressed to each member.  

Payment of 
expenses to 

members 

13. There shall be paid to the members of the Council such 

expenses as may from time to time be prescribed by regulations under 

clause (a) of sub-section (3) of Section 35. 

Appointment 
of registrar 
and other 

official 
 
 
 

14. (1) The Council- 

(a) shall appoint a Registrar; 

(b) may grant leave to such Registrar and appoint a person 

to act in his place; and 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for (Provincial Government). 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

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Act no. XLV 

of 1860 

 (c) shall pay to the Registrar and to the person (if any) ap- 

pointed to act in his place such salary and such allowances (if 

any) as the Council may determine from time to time: 

Provided that the appointment and the salary and allowance (if 

any) of the Registrar shall be subject to the previous sanction of the 

[State Government]1.  

(2) The Council may appoint such other officers and such 

ministerial staff and servants as it may consider necessary for the 

purposes of this Act, and shall pay them such salary and such 

allowances (if any) as the Council may determine. 

(3) The Registrar or the person appointed to act in his place 

shall act as Secretary to the Council. 

(4) Every person appointed under sub-section (1) and (2) shall 

be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the 

Indian Penal Code. 

Punishment 
and dismissal 
of officials of 

the Council 

15. (1) The Council may punish or dismiss a person appointed 

under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 14 after he has been given a 

reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to 

be taken in regard to him:  

Provided that- 

(a) previous sanction of the [State Government]1 shall be 

necessary in the case of a person appointed under sub-section (1) 

of section 14; 

(b) a person appointed under sub-section (2) of section 14 

shall have a right of appeal to the [State Government]1 against an 

order under this section within one month from the date of the 

communication of the order to him.  

(2) The power to punish, conferred by sub-section (1), shall be 

deemed to include the power to suspend an officer. 

(3) The power to dismiss, conferred by sub-section (1), shall be 

deemed to include the power to suspend any person against whom the 

power of dismissal might be exercised, pending inquiry into his 

conduct. 

 

Orders by 
Council for 
maintenance 
of register 

The Registrar of Veterinary Practitioners 

16. (1) The Council shall, as soon as convenient after the 

commencement of this Act, and from time to time as occasion may 

require, make orders for regulating the maintenance of a register of 

Veterinary Practitioners.  

(2) The said register shall be kept in such form as may be 

prescribed. 

Registrar 

functions in 
respect of  
register 

17. (1) The Registrar shall keep the register of Veterinary Prac- 

titioners in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of any orders 

made by the Council and shall from time to time make all necessary 

alterations in the registered addresses or appointments, and the 

registered qualifications entered therein or titles, of the practitioner 

entered therein and erase the names of any practitioners who have died 

or have permanently ceased to practice in [Uttar Pradesh]2. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for (Provincial Government). 

2. Subs. by ibid for the (United Provinces). 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

10 

 (2) The Registrar may send by post, a letter to any registered 

practitioner, addressed to him according to his registered address or 

appointment, to inquire whether he has ceased to practice in [Uttar 

Pradesh]1 or whether his residence or appointment has been changed, 

and, if no answer to any such letter is received within a period of six 

months from its dispatch, the Registrar may erase the name of such 

registered practitioner from the register:  

Provided that any name erased under this sub-section may be 

re-entered in the register under the direction of the Council. 

Person 

entitled to be 

registered 

18. Every person referred to in the Schedule and every person 

for the time being registered under any Act for the registration of 

Veterinary Practitioners, in force in any other province in India, if 

reciprocity of registration has been arranged with the authority 

administering such Act, shall, subject to the provisions hereinafter 

contained and on payment of such fees as may be fixed in this behalf by 

regulations made under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 35, be 

entitled to have his name entered in the register of Veterinary 

Practitioners: 

Provided that the Registrar shall refer to the Council an 

application for entry in the register from a person in respect of whom he 

considers that the Council may wish to proceed under sub-section (1) of 

section 26: 

 

 

 

Amendment 

of Schedule 

 

 

 

Provided also that the Registrar, if so directed by the Council, 

shall refuse to register the name of any person who holds any veterinary 

degree, diploma or certificates granted in [*   *   *]2 India. 

19. If the [State Government]1 on the report of the Council 

otherwise, is satisfied— 

(a) that a title granted or qualification certified by a 

University, examining body or other institution is a sufficient 

guarantee that a person holding such title or qualification 

possesses the knowledge and skill requisite for efficient practice 

of his profession, or 

(b) that a title or qualification referred to in the Schedule is 

not a sufficient guarantee as aforesaid, it may, if it thinks fit, 

direct by notification in the official Gazette- 

(1) in case (a) that the possession of such title or 

qualification shall, subject to the provisions hereinafter 

contained and on payment of such fee as may be fixed in this 

behalf by regulation made under clause (b) of sub-section (3) 

of section 35, entitle a person to have his name entered in 

the register of Veterinary Practitioners, or 

(2) in case (b) that the possession of such title or 

qualification shall not entitle a person to have his name 

entered in the said register. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by A.O. 1950 for the (United Provinces). 
2. The word (British) Omit. by A.O. 1950. 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

12 

Power of 
Council to 
call for 

information 
from 
Veterinary 

College or 
School 

20. The Council shall have power to call on the governing body 

or authorities of a Veterinary College or School, included in or desirous 

of being included in the Schedule– 

(a) to furnish such reports, returns or other information as 

the Council may require to enable it to judge of the efficiency of 

the instruction given therein in Veterinary medicine and surgery; 

and 

(b) to provide facilities to enable a member of the Council 

deputed by the Council in this behalf to be present at the exa- 

mination held by such college or school. 

Information 
required of 

applicant for 
registration 

21. Every person who applies to have his name entered in the 

register of Veterinary Practitioners-  

(a) must satisfy the Registrar that he is possessed of some title or 

qualifications referred to in the Schedule as altered by notifications (if 

any) issued under section 19; and 

(b) he must correctly inform the Registrar of the dates on which 

he obtained the titles or qualifications which entitled him to claim 

registration under this Act; and 

(c) give the Registrar any information which he reasonably may 

require for the purposes of discharging his duties under this Act. 

Entry of new 
titles and 
qualifications 
in register 

22. If a person whose name is entered in the Register of 

Veterinary Practitioners obtains any title or qualifications other than the 

title or qualifications in respect of which he has been registered, he shall 

on payment of such fee as may be fixed in this behalf by  

regulation made under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 35, be 

entitled to have an entry stating such other title or qualification made 

against his name in the register, either in the substitution for, or in 

addition to, any entry previously made. 

Disposal of 
fees 

23. All fees received by the Council under this Act shall in the 

manner prescribed, be applied for the purposes of this Act. 

Appeal to 

Council from 
Decision of 
Registrar 

24. If a person is dissatisfied with a decision of the Registrar, 

refusing to enter any title or qualification of such person in the register 

of Veterinary Practitioners, he may, at any time within three months 

from the date of such decision, appeal to the Council. 

Erasure of 
fraudulent 

and incorrect 
entries  

25. Any entry in the register of Veterinary Practitioners which is 

proved to the satisfaction of the Council to have been fraudulently or 

incorrectly made, may be erased under an order in writing of the 

Council, after notice has been given to the person concerned and his 

objections (if any) have been considered. 

Power of 
Council to 
prohibit 
entry in or to 

direct 
removal from 
the register 

etc. 

26. (1) The Council may upon reference from the [Registrar]1 or 

otherwise prohibit the entry in, or order the removal from, the Re- 

register of the name of any Veterinary Practitioner- 

 (a) who has been sentenced by a criminal court or a court 

martial to imprisonment for an offence indicating in the opinion 

of the Council such a defect in character as would render the 

entry or continuance of his name in the register undesirable; or 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by al. 4 of Sch. to Sec. 3 of U.P. Act XXX of 1956 for the word ‘‘register’’. 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

14 

 (b) whom the Council after inquiry (at which an opportunity 

has been given to him to be heard in his defence and to appear 

either in person or by counsel, vakil, pleader or attorney, and 

which may in the discretion of the Council, be held in camera) 

has found guilty by a majority of two thirds of the members 

present and voting at the meeting of infamous conduct in and 

professional respect. 

 (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to justify the 

exclusion or removal from the register of the name of any Veterinary 

Practitioner on the ground of his adoption of a theory of Veterinary 

medicine or surgery not in accordance with the accepted view for the 

time being or of his association with an unregistered practitioners, so 

long as the unregistered practitioner- 

 (a) is possessed of one of the qualifications specified in the 

Schedule; and 

 (b) is not a person whose name it has reason to believe has 

been excluded or removed from the register by the Council under 

sub-section (1) or would be so excluded if application for 

registration thereof were made.  

 (3) The Council may direct that the name of any person against 

whom an order has been made under sub-section (1) shall be entered or 

re-entered as the case may be. 

Appeal to 
State 
Government 
from decision 

of Council 

27. (1) An appeal shall lie to the [State Government]1 from every 

decision of the Council under section 24 or 26. 

 (2) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be preferred within 

three months from the date of such decision. 

Bar to suit 

and other 
legal 
proceedings 

28. No suit or other legal preceedings shall lie in respect of any 

act done in the exercise of power conferred by this Act on the [State 

Government]1 or the Council or the Registrar. 

Notice of 
deaths and 
erasure of 

names from 
register 

29. (i) Every Registrar of deaths who receives notice of the death 

of a person whose name he knows to be entered in the register of 

Veterinary Practitioners shall forwith transmit by by post to the 

Registrar of the Council a certificate of such death signed by him and 

stating particulars of the time and place of death. 

 (2) On receipt of such certificate or other reliable information 

regarding death, the Registrar shall erase the name of the deceased 

person from the register. 

Penalty on 
unregistered 
person 

representing 
that he is 
registered 

30. If a person whose name is not entered in the register of 

Veterinary Practitioners falsly pretends that it is so entered or uses in 

connexion with his name or title any words or letters representing that 

his name is so entered he shall, whether any person is actually received 

by such representation or not be punishable, on conviction by a 

Magistrate of the first class, with fine which may extend to three 

hundred rupees. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by A.O. 1950 for the word ‘‘Provincial Government’’.  



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

16 

Proceedings in 
inquiris and 
appeals 

31. For the purpose of any inquiry held under section 26, or of 

any appeal under section 24, the council shall be deemed to be a court 

within the meaning of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and shall exercise 

the powers of a Commissioner appointed under the Public Servants 

(Inquiries) Act, 1850 and every such inquiry and appeal shall be 

conducted, as far as may be, in accordance with the provisions of 

section 5 and sections 8 to 10 of the said Public Servants, (Inquiries) 

Act, 1850. 

Reservation 
of certain 
appointments 
to registered 

practitioners 

32. No person other than a registered practitioner shall be com- 

petent to hold an appointment as a Veterinary Physician, Surgeon or 

other Veterinary Officer in any veterinary hospital which is supported 

partially or entirely by public [or] 1  local funds, or in any public 

establishment, body or institution or as a Veterinary Officer under a 

local authority unless he is registered under this Act. 

Qualified 
practitioners 
certificates 

33. No certificate required by any Act from any Veterinary 

Practitioner or Veterinary Officer shall be valid unless the person signing 

the same shall have been registered under this Act. 

 Annual Veterinary List 

Publication 
of and 
presumption 
as to entries 

in Annaul 
Veterinary 
list 

34. (1) The Registrar shall, in every year, on or before a date to 

be fixed in this behalf by the Council, cause to be printed and published 

a correct list of the names for the time being entered in the register of 

Veterinary Practitioners setting forth- 

(a) all names entered in the register arranged in alphabetical 

order according to the surnames 

(b) the registered address or appointment of each person whose 

name is entered in the register; and 

(c) the registered titles and qualifications of each such person, 

and the date on which each such title was granted or each such 

qualification was certified. 

 (2) Every court shall presume that a person whose name is 

entered in the latest of such lists is duly registered under this Act, and 

that a person whose name is not so entered is not registered under this 

Act: 

Provided that, in the case of person whose name does not appear 

in such list, a certified copy signed by the Registrar, of the entry of the 

name of such person in the register of Veterinary Practitioners shall be 

evidence that such person is registered under this Act. 

 Rules and Regulations 

Rules and 

Regulations 
35. (1) The [State Government]2 may, after previous publication, 

from time to time make rules consistent with this Act to carry out the 

purposes of this Act. 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the 

foregoing power, the Government may make rules- 

(a) to regulate elections under this Act; 

(b) to prescribe the form of the register of Veterinary Practitioners 

to be maintained under this Act; 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Add by S. 4 of Sch. 3 of U.P. Act XXX of 1956. 
2. Subs. by A.O. 1950 for the Provincial Government. 



[The United Provinces Veterinary Council Act, 1947]  

18 

 (c) to regulate the application of fees; 

(d) to regulate the procedure to be followed by the Council in :- 

(i) conducting any inquiry under section 26; and  

(ii) disposing of appeals from the decision of the Registrar 

preferred under section 24. 

(3) In addition to the power conferred by section 12, the Council 

may, with the previous sanction of the [State Government] 1  make 

regulations-- 

(a) to prescribe the expenses payable to members of the 

Council, 

(b) to prescribe the fees chargeable in respect of any 

registration under this Act; 

(e) to regulate the keeping of accounts; and 

 (d) to prescribe conditions of service of persons appointed 

under section 14. 

 (4) All such rules and regulations shall be published in the 

official Gazette. 

Control of 
Council by the 

State 
Government 

36. If at any time it shall appear to the [State Government]¹ 

that the Council has failed to exercise or has exceeded or abused a 

power conferred upon it under this Act, or has failed to perform a duty 

imposed upon it by this Act, the Government may, if it considers such 

failure, excess, or abuse to be of a serious character, notify the 

particulars thereof to the Council; and if the Council fails to remedy 

such default, excess or abuse within such time as may be fixed by the 

Government in this behalf, it may dissolve the Council and cause all or 

any of the powers and duties of the Council to be exercised and 

performed by such agency and for such period as it may think fit: 

Provided that it shall take steps as soon as may be convenient 

to constitute a new Council of the members prescribed in section 4. 

 THE SCHEDULE 

 Persons who are entitled to have their names entered in the 

register of Veterinary Practitioners. 

(1) Bachelors, Masters and Doctors of Veterinary Science of the 

Universities of Madras and the Punjab. 

(2) Licensed Veterinary Practitioners (Punjab). 

(3) Graduates of the Madras Veterinary College.  

(4) Graduates of the Bombay Veterinary College. 

(5) Graduates of the Bengal Veterinary College.  

(6) Graduates of the Punjab Veterinary College. 

(7) Graduates of the Bihar Veterinary College.  

(8) Fellows and Members of the Royal College of Veterinary 

Surgeons, Great Britain and Ireland.  

(9) Bachelors, Masters and Doctors of Veterinary Science of any 

of the Universities in Great Britain and other parts of the British 

Commonwealth. 

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950 for (Provincial Government). 



 

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