Section 13A. Authorisation of officers

4[ 13A. Authorisation of officers.— (1) The Authority may, by order, authorise any officer of the Authority or the State Government or the Central Government, not below the rank of Assistant Director of Fisheries in a District to function as authorised officer to exercise such powers, to discharge such duties and perform such functions, as may be specified in that order. (2) The Central Government may, by notification, authorise any officer of the Authority or the State Government or the Central Government, not below the rank of Under Secretary to the Government of India, to function as an adjudicating officer, to adjudicate the penalties imposed under this Act. (3) The Central Government may, by notification, authorise any officer of the Authority or the State Government or the Central Government, not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, to function as the Appellate Authority, who may affirm, vary or set aside the order passed by the adjudicating officer. 1. Subs. by Act 27 of 2023, s. 10, for "farm" (w.e.f. 12-9-2023). 2. Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "farm" (w.e.f. 12-9-2023). 3. Ins. by s. 10, ibid, (w.e.f. 12-9-2023). 4. Ins. by s. 11, ibid , (w.e.f. 12-9-2023). (4) The adjudicating officer or the Appellate Authority, shall, for the purposes of discharging functions under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:— - (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses; - (b) requiring the discovery and production of documents; (c) requisitioning any public record or document or copy of such record or document from any office; (d) receiving evidence on affidavits; - (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents. (5) The adjudicating officer or the Appellate Authority shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).] 1[14. Penalty for carrying on coastal aquaculture in contravention of provisions of Act.— Where any person carries on coastal aquaculture or traditional coastal aquaculture or causes the coastal aquaculture or traditional coastal aquaculture to be carried on in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder or any guidelines or notifications issued thereunder, an officer authorised under section 13A shall take all or any of the following actions, namely:— (a) suspension or stoppage of any activity in a coastal aquaculture unit for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed; (b) imposition of penalty as specified in the Table below; - (c) removal or demolition of any structure; - (d) destruction of the standing crop therein; (e) suspension or cancellation of registration for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed. ||||Table|Table|Table| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Sl.<br>No.|Coastal<br>Aquaculture/use<br>of<br>prohibited<br>materials|Offences|Penalty||| ||||First<br>time<br>offence|Second<br>time<br>offence|Third time and<br>subsequent<br>offences| |(1)|(2)|(3)|(4)|(5)|(6)| |1.|Farm|Non-registration.|Rupees ten<br>thousand per<br>hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of water<br>spread area.|Rupees fifteen<br>thousand per<br>hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of<br>water spread<br>area.|Rupees twenty-<br>five thousand<br>per hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of<br>water spread<br>area.| |||Non-compliance<br>with the provisions<br>of the Act, rules,<br>regulations,<br>guidelines and<br>notifications, other<br>than non-<br>registration.|Rupees five<br>thousand per<br>hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of water<br>spread area.|Rupees ten<br>thousand per<br>hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of<br>water spread<br>area.|Rupees fifteen<br>thousand per<br>hectare (or<br>fraction of a<br>hectare) of<br>water spread<br>area.| |2.|Hatchery,<br>Brood Stock<br>Multiplication<br>Centre, Nucleus<br>Breeding<br>Centre or such<br>other coastal<br>aquaculture unit|Non-registration.|Rupees fifty<br>thousand.|Rupees<br>seventy-five<br>thousand.|Rupees one<br>lakh.| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Non-compliance<br>with the provisions<br>of the Act, rules,<br>regulations,<br>guidelines and<br>notifications, other<br>than non-<br>registration.|Rupees twenty-<br>five thousand.|Rupees fifty<br>thousand.|Rupees one<br>lakh.| |3.|Use of materials<br>prohibited<br>under section<br>12A|Contravention of the<br>provisions of clause<br>(a) or clause (b) of<br>section 12A|Rupees fifty<br>thousand.|Rupees<br>seventy-five<br>thousand.|Rupees one<br>lakh.|