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  "id": "punjab-code-0717e024ef09b614",
  "title": "PUNJAB REGISTRATION OF GODOWNS ACT 2014",
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  "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/VmNSZQEwUGE-",
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  "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:59:59Z",
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  "text": "THE PUNJAB REGISTRATION OF GODOWNS ACT 2014  \r\n(XXI of 2014) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Essential articles \r\n4. Stocking of essential articles \r\n5. Registration of godown \r\n6. Maintenance and inspection of records \r\n7. Powers of Registering Authority \r\n8. Appeal \r\n9. Bar of jurisdiction \r\n10. Penalty \r\n11. Rules \r\n12. Repeal \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB REGISTRATION OF GODOWNS ACT 2014  \r\n(XXI of 2014) \r\n[10th November, 2014] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for the registration of godowns in the Punjab. \r\nWhereas it is expedient to register godowns; to provide for a comprehensive \r\nsystem regarding stable supply and availability of essential articles;  and to deal with \r\nancillary matters; \r\nIt is enacted as follows: \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the \r\nPunjab Registration of Godowns Act 2014. \r\n(2) It shall extend to whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force with effect from 7 September 2014. \r\n2. Definitions.– In this Act: \r\n(a) “essential article” means  an article declared as essential article under \r\nsection 3 of the Act; \r\n(b) “godown” means the premises, warehouse, cold storage or depot use \r\nfor storing of an essential article; \r\n(c) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n(d) “owner” means an owner or lessee of a godown and includes the \r\nperson in actual occupation or management of a godown; \r\n(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under the Act; \r\n(f) “Registering Authority” means the Director (Agriculture Economics and \r\nMarketing) of the Govern ment, Agriculture Department or any other \r\nofficer appointed as the Registering Authority by the Government; and \r\n(g) “designated officer” means an officer appointed by the Registering \r\nAuthority to inspect godowns, records, registers and accounts of the \r\ngodowns under the Act. \r\n3. Essential articles.– The Government may, by notification, declare an article \r\nas essential article. \r\n4. Stocking of essential articles .– An owner shall not store or stock an \r\nessential article in the godown unless the godown is registered under this Act. \r\n                                                           \r\n1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly  on 24 October 2014; assented to by the Governor of the  Punjab on 08 \r\nNovember 2014; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 10 November 2014, pages 1683-1685. \r\n5. Registration of godown .– (1) The owner shall, within thirty days from the \r\ndate of commencement of this Act, in case of an existing godown and within sixty \r\ndays from the date of commencement of operation of a new godown established \r\nafter the commencement of the Act, make an application to the Registering Authority \r\nin the prescribed form for registration of the godown. \r\n(2) The Registering Authority, on receipt of the application, shall make \r\nsuch inquiry and require the owner to furnish such information as it deem necessary. \r\n(3) If the Registering Authority, as a result of the inquiry,  is satisfied that \r\nthe information contained in the application or furnished by the owner in respect of \r\nthe godown is correct, it shall register the godown. \r\n(4) The owner, whose godown is registered, shall comply with the \r\nprovisions of this Act, the rules and the directions issued by the Registering Authority \r\nin respect of the godown or any essential article stored in the godown. \r\n6. Maintenance and inspection o f records .– The owner shall maintain and \r\nproduce for inspection of such books, accounts and record relating to the essential \r\narticles stored in or removed from the godown and to furnish such information \r\nrelating thereto as and when required by the Register ing Authority or the designated \r\nofficer. \r\n7. Powers of Registering Authority .– The Registering Authority or the \r\ndesignated officer may enter and search a godown and seize any essential article in \r\nrespect of which the Registering Authority or the designated officer has reasons to \r\nbelieve that: \r\n(a) a provision of this Act or the rules has been violated; or \r\n(b) the information furnished by the owner is not correct; or \r\n(c) any direction issued by the Registering Authority is or is about to be \r\ncontravened. \r\n8. Appeal.– (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Registering Authority \r\nmay, within thirty days from the date of communication of such order, prefer an \r\nappeal to the Government and the Government may set aside, modify or confirm the \r\nimpugned order.  \r\n(2) In case, no appeal is filed within thirty days, the order of the \r\nRegistering Authority shall be final and, in case, an appeal is preferred, the order of \r\nthe Government on such appeal shall be final. \r\n9. Bar of jurisdiction .– (1) No suit, prosecution or any ot her legal proceeding \r\nshall lie against any person for anything, in good faith, done or intended to be done \r\nunder this Act or the rules. \r\n(2) No court shall call in question, or permit to be called in question, \r\nanything done or any action taken under this Act or the rules. \r\n(3) No court shall grant any injunction or make any order, nor shall any \r\ncourt entertain any proceedings, in relation to anything done or intended to be done \r\nor any action taken or intended to be taken under this Act or the rules. \r\n10. Penalty.– (1) If a person contravenes any provision of this Act, creates any \r\nobstacle or prevents the Registering Authority or the designated officer from \r\nperforming their functions under the Act, such person shall be punished with an \r\nimprisonment which may ext end to three years or with fine which may extend to \r\nthree hundred thousand rupees or with both.  \r\n(2) A court shall not take cognizance of an offence under this section \r\nunless an officer authorized by the Government submits a complaint in writing. \r\n11. Rules.– The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make \r\nrules for carrying out purposes of this Act. \r\n12.  Repeal.– The Punjab Registration of Godowns Ordinance 2014 (VIII of 2014) \r\nis hereby repealed.",
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