The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified three new rules on tea, spices and rubber. The aim of these rules is to streamline the process of inquiry and appeal related to violations under their corresponding Acts. These rules were published on August 9, 2024 and have come into immediate effect.
The rules published are as follows:
- Tea (Holding Inquiry and Appeal) Rules, 2024,
- Spices Board (Holding Inquiry and Appeal) Rules, 2024 and
- Rubber (Holding Inquiry and Appeal) Rules, 2024
The new rules outline the procedures for conducting inquiries, issuing notices, and imposing penalties by the adjudicating officer. It also specifies the timelines for completing inquiries and the process for filing and disposing of appeals.
Key features of these new rules include:
- Adjudicating officers are required to complete inquiries within 180 days of issuing the initial notice.
- Persons aggrieved by the adjudicating officer’s order can appeal to the appellate authority within 60 days.
- The rules allow for electronic filing of appeals and other documents.
- All penalties collected under these rules will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India.
The rules are expected to bring more transparency and efficiency to the enforcement of the Tea Act, 1953, Spices Board Act, 1986 and Rubber Act, 1947. They also seek to ensure timely resolution of disputes.
