Section 16 of The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984
- (1)The veterinary qualifications granted by veterinary institutions outside India which are included in the Second Schedule shall be recognised veterinary qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
- (2)The Council may enter into negotiations with the authority in any country outside India which by the law of such country is entrusted with the maintenance of a register of veterinary practitioners, for the setting of a scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of veterinary qualifications, and in pursuance of any such scheme, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule so as to include therein the veterinary qualification which the Council has decided should be recognised, and any such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of the Second Schedule against such veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised veterinary qualification only when granted after a specified date.
- (3)The Central Government, after consultation with the Council, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule by directing that an entry be made therein in respect of any veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised veterinary qualification only when granted before a specified date.
- (4)Where the Council has refused to recommend any veterinary qualification which has been proposed for recognition by any authority referred to in sub-section (2) and the authority applies to the Central Government in this behalf, the Central Government, after considering such application and after obtaining from the Council a report, if any, as to the reasons for any such refusal, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule so as to include such qualification therein and the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to such notification.
Summary
- The Veterinary Council of India can negotiate with foreign veterinary authorities to establish a mutual recognition system called reciprocity, where each country accepts the other's veterinary degrees.
- Foreign veterinary qualifications listed in the Second Schedule of this law are officially recognized in India.
- The Central Government of India has the power to add new foreign veterinary degrees to the Second Schedule or set cut-off dates before or after which a qualification is considered valid.
- The Central Government does this by publishing a notification in the Official Gazette, which is the government's public journal for official announcements.
- If the Council rejects a foreign qualification, the foreign authority can appeal directly to the Central Government, which can override the refusal and recognize the qualification after reviewing the Council's reasons.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. What does reciprocity mean under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984?
Reciprocity under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 is an agreement where the Veterinary Council of India and a foreign authority mutually agree to recognize each other's veterinary degrees so practitioners can work in both countries.
2. Can a foreign veterinary degree be recognized only if it was completed after a specific date under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984?
Yes, under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, the Central Government can issue a notification in the Official Gazette, which is the government's public journal, declaring that a foreign qualification is recognized only when granted after a specified date.
3. What can a foreign veterinary authority do if the Council refuses to recognize its degree under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984?
Under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, the foreign authority can apply directly to the Central Government, which can ask the Council for a report on the refusal and ultimately decide to recognize the qualification by amending the Second Schedule.
4. Who has the final authority to add or remove recognition dates for foreign qualifications in the Second Schedule under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984?
The Central Government of India has the final authority to amend the Second Schedule by official notification under Section 16 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, though it consults with or obtains reports from the Veterinary Council of India.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 16 of The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, who is authorized to enter into negotiations with foreign authorities to set up a scheme of reciprocity for recognizing veterinary degrees?
Q2.If the Veterinary Council of India refuses to recommend a foreign qualification under Section 16 of The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, what recourse does the foreign authority have?
Q3.Under Section 16 of The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, how are accepted foreign veterinary qualifications officially added to the Second Schedule?
Q4.Under Section 16 of The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984, what must the Central Government do before directing that a qualification in the Second Schedule is recognized only when granted before a specified date?