Powers and duties conferrable and imposable on members of the Coast Guard

Section 121 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978 deals with powers and duties conferrable and imposable on members of the Coast Guard. The Central Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, direct that, subject to such conditions and limitations, and within the local limits of such inland area adjoining the coast of India, as may be specified in the order, any member of the Coast Guard may,-- (i) The Act came into force on 19 Aug 1978.

(1) The Central Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, direct that, subject to such conditions and limitations, and within the local limits of such inland area adjoining the coast of India, as may be specified in the order, any member of the Coast Guard may,--

(i) for the purpose of prevention of any offence punishable under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 (34 of 1920), the Emigration Act, 1922 (7 of 1922), the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 (16 of 1939), the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946), the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967), the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), or the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (80 of 1976), or of any cognizable offence punishable under any other Central Act; or

(ii) for the purpose of apprehending any person who has committed any offence referred to in clause (i),

exercise or discharge such of the powers or duties under that Act or any other Central Act as may be specified in the said order, being the powers and duties which, in the opinion of the Central Government, an officer of the corresponding or lower rank is by that or such other Act empowered to exercise or discharge for the said purposes.

(2) The Central Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, direct, with the concurrence of the State Government concerned, that any of the powers or duties which may be exercised or discharged under a State Act by a police officer may, subject to such conditions and limitations, and within the local limits of such inland area adjoining the coast of India, as may be specified in the order, be exercised or discharged by a member of the Coast Guard who, in the opinion of the Central Government, holds a corresponding or higher rank.

(3) The Central Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, direct that, subject to such conditions and limitations, and within the local limits of such area in any maritime zone of India, as may be specified in the order, any member of the Coast Guard may,--

(i) for the purpose of prevention of any offence punishable under any enactment which extends for the time being to such area; or

(ii) for the purpose of apprehending any person who has committed any offence referred to in clause (i),

exercise or discharge such of the powers or duties under that enactment, as may be specified in the said order, being the powers and duties which, in the opinion of the Central Government, an officer of the corresponding or lower rank is by that enactment empowered to exercise or discharge for the said purposes.

(4) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the order or both Houses agree that the order should not be made, the order 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 order.

Section 121, The Coast Guard Act, 1978 (Act 30 of 1978).