Section 3. Definitions

3. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "Board" means the Tobacco Board established under section 4; (b) "Chairman" means Chairman of the Board; (c) "curing" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) and all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly; (d) "dealer" means a dealer in tobacco; (e) "Executive Director" means the Executive Director appointed under section 6; (f) "export" and "import" mean, respectively, taking out of, or bringing into, India, by land, sea or air; (g) "member" means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman; (h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (i) "registered" means, except in the expression "registered grower", registered under Chapter III of this Act and the rules made thereunder; (j) "registered grower" means a person who has obtained a certificate of registration under section 10 for growing virginia tobacco. 3. The word "and" omitted by s. 2, ibid . (w.e.f. 30-8-1978). 4. Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 30-8-1978). 5. Subs. by s. 2, ibid ., for "other than the States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka" (w.e.f. 30-8-1978). 6. Subs. by Act 57 of 1985, s. 2, for "eight members" (w.e.f. 1-12-1985). 7. Ins. by s. 2, ibid . (w.e.f. 1-12-1985). (7)[1] [Any officer] of the Central Government (not being a member of the Board) as is deputed by the Central Government in this behalf, shall have the right to attend the meetings of the Board and take part in the proceedings thereof, but shall not have the right to vote. (8) The Board may associate with itself, in such manner and for such purposes as may be prescribed, any persons whose assistance or advice it may desire in complying with any of the provisions of this Act and a person so associated shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Board relevant to the purposes for which he has been associated, but shall not have the right to vote. (9) No act or proceeding of the Board or any committee appointed by it under section 7 shall be invalidated merely by reason of— (a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Board or such committee; or (b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Board or such committee; or (c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Board or such committee not affecting the merits of the case.