(1) The Government, with the object of eradicating as far as practicable any scheduled diseases, may, by notification in the Official Gazette—
(a) declare any local area to be an eradication area, and thereupon in such area any class or classes of animals specified in the notification shall be liable to be immunized in the manner described in the notification, and shall also for the purposes of identification be marked in the prescribed manner; and
(b) prohibit or regulate the movement of any class or classes of animals into, or out of, or within, any local area which is for the time being declared to be an eradication area.
(2) For the purpose of immunizing any animal as provided in sub-section (1) the Veterinary Surgeon or Inspector may, by notice in writing served on any person, or published in any such local area or part thereof, in the manner prescribed, require any person or all persons, as the case may be, who own or are in charge of any such animal to produce the animal for immunization and marking at such time and place as is specified in the notice, and thereupon the person, or all persons, to whom the notice refers shall comply with the requisition, and shall also give all reasonable facilities and assistance for carrying out the immunization and marking:
Provided that, on an application made by the owner, or any person having charge of any animal required to be immunized and marked, the Veterinary Surgeon or Inspector --3-- may, for good and sufficient reason, exempt any animal from such immunization or marking and he shall, if so requested, furnish in writing to the owner, or person in charge of such animal, the reason for such exemption.
Explanation.— “Immunization” for the purpose of this section means treatment with serum, or with both vaccine and serum.