Dourine Act, 1910

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THE DOURINE ACT, 1910 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title and extent 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Registration of horses 
4.  Appointment of inspectors and veterinary practitioners 
5.  Powers of inspector 
6.  Duties of inspector 
7.  Inspection of horses 
8.  Powers of veterinary practitioner 
9.  Compensation for horse destroyed, etc. 
10.  Settlement of compensation 
11.  Committees for hearing appeals 
12.  Appeals 
13.  Vexatious entries and searches 
14.  Rules 
15.  Penalties 
16.  Protection to persons acting under Act 
 
  
 
 

 
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THE DOURINE ACT, 1910 
lACT No. V OF 1910 
[25th February, 1910] 
An Act to provide for the prevention of the spread of Dourine 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the prevention of the spread of dourine; It is  hereby 
enacted as follows:___ 
1. Short title and extent.___(1) This Act may be called the , 1910. 
(2) This section extends to 2[the whole of Pakistan]: the rest of this Act extends only  to such 
areas as the 3[Provincial Government] may, by notification in the 4[official Gazette], direct. 
2. Definition.___ (1) In this Act, the expressions “inspector” and “veterinary practitioner” mean, 
respectively, the officers appointed as such under this Act, acting within the local limits for which they 
are so appointed. 
(2) The provisions of this Act in so far as they relate to entire horses shall, if the 
3[Provincial Government], by notification as aforesaid, so directs, apply also to entire asses  
used for mule-breeding purposes. 
3. Registration of horses.___ The 3[Provincial Government] may, by notification as aforesaid, 
make such orders as it thinks fit directing and regulating the registration of entire  horses maintained 
for breeding purposes. 
4. Appointment of i nspectors and veterinary practitioners. ___(1) The 3[Provincial 
Government] may, by notification as aforesaid, appoint any persons it thinks fit to be  inspectors, and 
any qualified veterinary surgeons to be veterinary practitioners, under this  Act, and to e xercise and 
perform, within any area prescribed by the notification, the powers  conferred and duties imposed by 
this Act upon such officers respectively. 
(2) Every person so appointed shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the 
Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860). 
5. Powers of inspector. ___ An inspector may, subject to such rules as the 3[Provincial 
Government] may make in this behalf,– 
 
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1909, Pt. V, p. 96; for Report of Select Committee, 
see ibid., 1910, Pt. V, p. 27; and for Proceedings in Council, see ibid., 1909, Pt. VI, p. 157, and ibid., 1910, Pt. 
VI, pp. 13, 90 and 121, dated the 5th February, 1910, the 26th February 1910, and the 12th March, 1910, respectively. 
This Act has been extended to Baluchistan by notification under the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874, (14 of 1874), s. 5, see Gazette of India, 1916 Pt. II, p. 
211. 
It has also been extended to the Leased Areas of Baluchistan, see G.G.O. 3 of 1950, and applied in the Federated Areas of Baluchistan, see Gaz. of India, 
1937, Pt. I, p. 1499. 
2Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. ( with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for “all the 
Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, for “the whole of British India”. 
3Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L.G.”. 
4Subs. ibid., for “local Gazette”. 
 
 
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 (a)  enter and search any building, field or other place for the purpose of ascertaining 
whether there is therein any horse which is affected with dourine; 1* 
(b)  prohibit, by order in writing, the owner or keeper of any horse, which in his  
opinion is affected with dourine, from using such horse for breeding purposes,  
pending examination by the veterinary practitioner ; 
2[(c)  direct, by order in writing, the owner or keeper of any horse which, in the  
opinion of the inspectors, is affected with dourine to remove it or permit it to be 
removed for the purpose of segregation to a pla ce specified in the order,  and 
such direction shall be sufficient authority for the detention of the horse in  that 
place for that purpose.] 
6. Duties of inspector. ___ An inspector issuing an order under section 5, 3* * shall forthwith 
forward a copy of such order to the veterinary practitioner. 
7. Inspection of horses. ___ A veterinary practitioner receiving a copy of an order  forwarded 
under section 6 shall, as soon as possible after receipt of such copy, examine the  horse mentioned 
therein, and may for such purpose enter any building, field or other place. 
8. Powers of veterinary practitioner.___ A veterinary practitioner may– 
(a)  cancel any order issued under section 5 4* *; or 
(b)  if on microscopical examination 5[ or by other scientific test] he fin ds that any 
horse is affected with dourine,___ 
(i)  in the case of an entire horse, cause it to be castrated, 
6(ii)  in the case of a mare, with the previous sanction of such authority as the 
7[Provincial Government] may appoint in this behalf, or, if so 
empowered by the  7[Provincial Government], without such sanction, 
cause it to be destroyed.] 
9. Compensation for horse destroyed, etc.___ When any horse is castrated or destroyed under 
section 8, the market-value of such horse immediately before it became affected with dourine shall be 
ascertained; and the 7[Provincial Government] shall pay as compensation to the owner thereof___ 
(a)  in the case of a mare which has been destroyed, or of an entire horse which has 
died in consequence of castration, such market-value, and, 
(b)  in the case of an entire horse which survives castration, half the  amount by 
which such value has been diminished owing to infection  with dourine and 
castration. 
 
1The words “and” omitted by the Dourine (Amdt.) Act, 1920 (8 of 1920), section 2. 
2Clause (c) ins. ibid. 
3The word, brackets and letter “clause (b)” omitted by the Dourine (Amdt.) Act, 1920 (8 of 1920), s.3. 
4The word, brackets and letter “clause (b)” omitted ibid., s. 4. 
5Ins. ibid., s. 4. 
6Subs. ibid., for the original sub clause (ii). 
7Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L.G.”. 
 
 
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10. Settlement of compensation.___(1) A veterinary practitioner may award, as compensation 
to be paid under section 9 in respect of each horse castrated or destroyed under  section 8, a sum not 
exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees. 
(2) If, in the opinion of the veterinary practitioner, the amount which should be paid as such 
compensation exceeds two hundred and fifty rupees, he shall report accordingly to the Collector, who 
shall decide the amount to be so paid. 
11. Committees for hearing appeals. ___ (1) The l[Provincial Government] shall, by  rules 
published in the 2[official Gazette], make provision for the constitution of a committee or committees 
for the hearing of appeals from decisions under section 10. 
(2) Such rules shall provide that not less than one member of any committee  constituted 
thereunder shall be a person not in the 3[service of the Government] or of a local authority. 
12. Appeals.___ Any owner may, within two months from the date of a decision under section 
10, appeal against such decision to the committee constituted in that behalf by rules made under section 
11, and the decision of such committee shall be final. 
13. Vexatious entries and searches.___ (1) Whoever, being an inspector appointed under this 
Act, vexatiously and unnecessarily enters or searches any field, building or other  place, shall be 
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or  with fine which may 
extend to five hundred rupees, or with both. 
(2) No prosecution under this section shall be instituted after the expiry of three  months from 
the date on which the offence has been committed. 
14. Rules.___ (1) The l[Provincial Government] may make rules for the purpose of carrying into 
effect the provisions of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such  rules as 
aforesaid may___ 
4[(a)  regulate the exercise of the powers conferred on Inspectors under section 5;] 
(b)  regulate the action to be taken by veterinary practitioners under section 8; 5* 
5*  *  *  *  *  *  * 
(3) All such rules shall be published in the 6[official Gazette], and, on such  publication, shall 
have effect as if enacted in this Act. 
(4) In making any rule under this section the 7[Provincial Government] may direct that a breach 
of it shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
 
1Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L. G.”. 
2Subs. ibid., for “local official Gazette”. 
3The original words “employ of Government” were first subs., by A.O., 1937, and then amended by A.O., 1961 Art. 2 (with effect from the 
23rd March, 1956), to read as above. 
4Subs. by the Dourine (Amdt.) Act, 1920 (8 of 1920), s. 5, for the original clause (a). 
5The word “and” at the end of cl. (b), and cl. (c) omitted, ibid. 
6Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “local official Gazette”. 
7Subs. ibid., for “L, G.”. 
 
 
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15. Penalties.___ Whoever uses or permits to be used for breeding purposes– 
(a)  any horse which has not been registered in accordance with the requirements of 
a notification under section 3. or 
1[(b)  any horse in respect of which an order under clause (b) or clause (c) of section 
5 is in force,] shall be punishable with fine which may amount, in the case of a first conviction, 
to fifty rupees, or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to one hundred rupees. 
16. Protection to persons acting under Act.___ No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding 
shall lie against any person for anything which is, in good faith, done or intended to be done under this 
Act. 
 
 
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Date: 11-09-2024 
1Subs. by the Dourine (Amdt.) Act, 1920 (8 of 1920), s. 6, for the original clauses (b) and (c).