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THE KERALA ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY ACT, 2007 AN ACT to provide for the constitution of a Road Safety Authority for the implementation of road safety programmes in the State, for the establishment of a Road Safety Fund and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
Preamble.-WHEREAS, it is expedient to provide for the constitution of a Road Safety Authority for the implementation of road safety programmes in the State, for the establishment of a Road Safety Fund and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto: BE it enacted in the Fifty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 1. Short title and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Kerala Road Safety Authority Act, 2007. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 7th day of January, 2006. 2. Definitions.- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "accident" means any incident wherein, on account of the use of a motor vehicle on a public road, death, bodily injury or damage caused to any public properties, other vehicles, person, persons or property or to any public property or other vehicles, as the case may be; (b) "authority" means the 'Road Safety Authority' constituted under section 3; (c) "cess" means the cess levied under section 10; (d) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Authority, Executive Committee or District Road Safety Council, as the case may be; (e) "district" means a revenue district; (f) "District Road Safety Council" means the District Road Safety Council constituted under section 19; (g) "executive committee" means the executive committee of the Authority; (h) "fund" means the Road Safety Fund constituted under section 11; (i) "local authority" means a Panchayat constituted under the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994) or a Municipality constituted under the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 (20 of 1994); (j)"public road" shall include, any private road to which public have access and also the traffic islands, medians and footpaths; (k) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (l) "regulations" means the regulations made under section 39; (m) "vehicle" includes any contraption or device used or capable of being used for the carriage or movement of human beings, animals or goods; (2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Central Act 59 of 1988), Kerala Highway Protection Act, 1999 (6 of 2000) or the rules made thereunder. 3. Constitution of the Authority.- (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, an Authority to be called "the Kerala Road Safety Authority". (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with powers, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable and to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued. (a)the Minister for Transport, who shall be the Chairman of the Authority; (c) the Chief Secretary; (e) the Law Secretary; (f) the Principal Secretary, Home Department; (g) the Principal Secretary, Finance Department; (h) the Principal Secretary, Public Works Department; (i) the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department; (k) the Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department; (m) the Director General of Police; (n) the Director, Health Services Department; (o) the Inspector General of Police (Traffic); (p) the Chief Engineer (Roads and Bridges); (q) the Chief Engineer (National Highways); (r) the Director, National Transportation, Planning and Research Centre; (s) the Secretary, State Transport Authority; (4) The nominated members of the Authority shall hold office for a period of five year from the date of appointment. (5) Any nominated member may, at any time, resign his office by a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Authority. 4. Functions of the Authority.- The Authority shall have the following functions, namely:- (a) advising the Government on road safety policies; (c) formulate and implement schemes, projects (d) co-ordinating the functions of all the agencies (e) implementing road safety awareness (f) administration of the Fund; (g) sanctioning expenditure for the (h) sanctioning expenditure for road safety projects and for purchase and installationof equipments and devices connected with road safety; (i) sanctioning expenditure for the conduct of studies, projects and research on matters relating to road safety; (j) sanctioning expenditure for trauma-care programmes or activities; (k) sanctioning administrative expenditure (l) sanctioning expenditure on matters connected (m) formation of self help groups, under 5. Executive Committee.- (1) There shall be an Executive Committee for the Authority consisting of the following members, namely:- (a) Chief Secretary, who shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee; (d) Chief Engineer (Roads and Bridges); (e) Chief Engineer (National Highways); (f) Director, Health Services Department; (g) Director, National Transportation, Planning and Research (2) The Executive Committee shall be in charge of the implementation of the decisions of the Authority. 6. Meetings.-(1) The Authority and the Executive Committee and the District Road Safety Council, shall meet at such time and place as may be decided by the Chairman of the Authority, the Executive Committee or the District Road Safety Council, as the case may be, and shall observe such rules of procedure in relation to transaction of business at the meetings, as may be made by regulations. (2) Every meeting of the Authority or the Executive Committee shall be presided over by the Chairman or in his absence by the Vice-Chairman or in his absence, a member chosen by the members present. (3) The Authority shall meet atleast once in six months. (4) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be seven. (5) The Executive Committee shall meet atleast once a month. (6) The quorum for meeting of Executive Committee shall be three. 7. Disposal of Business.- Every matter to be decided by the Authority or the Executive Committee shall be considered and disposed of at the meetings of the Authority or of the Executive Committee, as the case may be, in accordance with the decision of the majority of the members present. 8. Vacancies etc. not to invalidate proceedings of the Authority.- No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be questioned or shall be invalidated merely on the ground of existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority.9. Road Safety Commissioner.-The Transport commissioner shall be the ex-officio Road Safety Commissioner for the purpose of this Act. 10. Levy and collection of cess.- (1) There shall be levied and collected one-time cess for the purposes of this Act on every motor vehicle used or kept for use in the State at the rates specified for such vehicle in the Schedule: Provided that no such cess shall be levied on a motor vehicle kept by dealer or manufacturer of such vehicle for the purpose of trade: Provided further that if the Government are of opinion that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, they may, by notification in the Gazette, make an exemption in regard to the cess payable under this Act in respect of any motor vehicle or class of motor vehicles. (2) Every cess leviable under sub-section (1) shall be payable by the registered owner or any person having possession or control of the motor vehicle, as the case may be. (3) The cess levied under sub-section (1) shall be collected by the taxation officer appointed under the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976 (19 of 1976) or in such manner and at such time as may be prescribed. (4) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, direct that for the purpose of collection of cess, the provisions of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976 (19 of 1976), shall apply, subject to such modifications as may be specified in the notification.
(e) compounding fee collected under section 28. as the Authority may deem fit ; and
public road; or (iv) the condition of any tree, structure or building (v) the entry or exit of any building or premise in is likely to cause accidents or causes obstruction to the free flow of traffic or distract the attention or obstruct the vision of the driver of any vehicle, the Road Safety Commissioner may, after recording reasons thereof, direct the person concerned, either by a general or special order, to take such measures within two months as it considers necessary and such person shall be bound to comply with the direction within such time, as may be specified by the Authority. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), in case of urgency, the Road Safety Commissioner may take such action as may be necessary to prevent accident or obstruction, as the case may be, and recover the cost thereof from the person responsible, in such manner as may be prescribed. Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be issued in respect of any highway declared as such under the Kerala Highway Protection Act, 1999 (6 of 2000) except with the prior consultation of the highway authority of the respective area appointed under the said Act. (2) It shall be the duty of every officer of the Government, local authority or any other authority to act in aid of the Authority in enforcing the orders under sub-section (1). 18. Delegation.- The Authority may, with the previous approval of the Government, delegate to the Executive Committee, Road Safety Commissioner or the District Road Safety Council such of its powers and functions, as it may consider necessary, for the effective implementation of the road safety programmes by general or special order, subject to such restrictions as it deems fit. 19. District Road Safety Council.- (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, constitute a Council to be called "the District Road Safety Council" in every district in the State. (2) Every District Road Safety Council shall consist of the following members, namely:- (a)the District Collector- ex-officio; who shall be the Chairman of the Council; (b) the District Superintendent of Police-ex-officio; (c) the Executive Engineer (Roads and Bridges) - (d) the Executive Engineer (National Highways)- (e) the Regional Transport Officer having 20. Staff.- (1) The Authority may, with prior approval of the Government, appoint such officers and staff as it deems necessary for the discharge of its functions under this Act. (2) The designation, method of appointment and other conditions of service of the staff shall be such, as may be prescribed. 21. Expenses.- All expenses of administration of the Fund including the salary and allowances of the staff and other employees shall be met from the Fund. 22. Accounts.- The accounts of the Fund shall be maintained by the Road Safety Commissioner in such manner, as may be prescribed. 23. District Road Safety Council to submit reports, etc.- Every District Road Safety Council shall submit such reports and returns and furnish such information to the Road Safety Commissioner, as may be required from time to time, and the Road Safety Commissioner shall submit a consolidated report to the Authority, annually. 24. Annual report.- (1) The Authority shall during each financial year prepare, in such form and at such time, as may be prescribed, an annual report giving a complete account of its activities of the previous year and submit such report to the Government. (2) The Government shall cause every such report to be laid before the Legislative Assembly, as soon as may be, after the receipt of the same. 25. Audit.- (1) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited by Accountant General. (2) The Authority may carry out internal audit of the accounts every year by such officials as it deems fit. (3) The accounts of the Authority, as certified by the auditor, together with the audit report thereon shall be submitted to the Government along with the remarks thereon by the Authority and the Government shall cause the same to be laid before the Legislative Assembly. (4) The Authority shall take such corrective steps as may be ordered by the Government on the basis of the report. 26. Punishment for failure to comply with the Authority's order.--(1) Whoever refuses or fails to comply with any order of the Authority or the Road Safety Commissioner or any District Road Safety Council under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both. (2) In the case of continuing offence a fine of one thousand rupees shall be imposed for each day for which the offence continues. 27. Punishment for obstructing the Authority.--Whoever obstructs the Authority, the Road Safety Commissioner, District Road Safety Council or any officer of the Authority or of the District Road Safety Council or any person employed or engaged by them in the discharge of the functions under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of maximum three years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both. 28. Compounding of offences.- Any offence punishable under section 26 may either before or after the institution of prosecution, be compounded by such officers or authorities and for such amount as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, specify in this behalf. 29. Offences by Companies.- If an offence punishable under this Act is committed at any time by a company, every person who is in charge of and responsible to the company for the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of the offence and the company shall be deemed to be responsible for the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the commission of the offence is with the consent and connivance 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 responsible for that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,- (a) 'company' means any body corporate and includes a firm or (b) 'Director' in relation to a firm means the partner in the firm. 30. Appeals.- (1) Any person aggrieved by an order passed by any officer of the Authority or of the District Road Safety Council under this Act may, within such time as may be prescribed, appeal to the single member Appellate Authority who is holding the post not below the rank of District Judge or held the post as such, as may be appointed by Government in this behalf. (2) Every appeal preferred under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by such fees, as may be prescribed. 34. Cognizance of offences and Trial.- No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence submitted with the prior permission of the Road Safety Commissioner.
(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, 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 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. 41. Repeal and Savings.-(1) The Kerala Road Safety Authority Ordinance, 2007 (18 of 2007) 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.
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