Section 67 of The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001
- (1)When the court has to form an opinion upon any question of fact or a scientific issue, such court may appoint an independent scientific adviser to suggest it or to inquire into and report upon the matter to enable it to from the desired opinion.
- (2)The scientific adviser may be paid such remuneration or expenses as the court may fix.
Summary
- The Authority must prepare an annual budget and maintain proper financial accounts and records.
- This record-keeping duty explicitly includes managing the accounts and records of the National Gene Fund.
- The annual statement of accounts must follow the format prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
- The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India must audit the accounts of the Authority at specified intervals.
- The Authority has to pay the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India for any expenses incurred during the audit.
- The certified accounts and the audit report must be forwarded annually to the Central Government to be presented before both Houses of Parliament.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can a court consult scientific experts in plant variety lawsuits under the plant variety protection law Section 67?
Yes, under Section 67 of the plant variety protection law, if a court needs to decide on a factual question or a scientific issue, it can appoint an independent scientific adviser to assist or provide a report.
2. Who pays for the court-appointed scientific adviser under the Plant Varieties Act Section 67?
Under Section 67 of the Plant Varieties Act, the scientific adviser is paid fees or expenses as fixed by the court, according to the terms of the court's order.
3. What is the exact role of a scientific adviser under the 2001 Act Section 67?
According to Section 67 of the 2001 Act, the scientific adviser's role is to suggest answers or investigate technical matters to help the court form an accurate opinion on scientific issues in the dispute.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 62 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001, whose accounts and records must the Authority explicitly maintain alongside its general records?
Q2.Under Section 62 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001, who must the Central Government consult to determine the format of the annual statement of accounts?
Q3.Under Section 62 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001, what are the rights of the Comptroller and Auditor-General during an audit?
Q4.Under Section 62 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001, who ultimately receives the certified accounts and audit report to present them to Parliament?