In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “affected area” means any area declared as such under section 3;
2[(b)****]
(c) “Inspecting Officer” means an Inspecting Officer appointed under section 13;
3[(cc) “local authority” means a district panchayat constituted under section 4 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994) or a municipality constituted under section 4 of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 (20 of 1994).];
(d) “noxious weed” means any weed declared as such under section 3;
(e) “occupier” means the person having for the time being the right of occupation of any land, water or premises, or his authorised agent or any person in actual occupation of the land, water or premises, and includes a local authority and a company having such right of occupation or in such actual occupation;
(f) “parasite” means any plant or animal carrying on its existence wholly or in part on any agricultural crop, plant, tree, bush or herb and declared to be a parasite under section 3;
(g) “pest” means any insect, invertebrate animal or vertebrate animal (including any other animal organism) and declared to be a pest under section 3;
1 Received the assent of the Governor on the 10th day of December, 1972 and published in the Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 741 dated 11th December, 1972.
2 Omitted by Act 16 of 2000 (w.e.f. 12-05-2000).
3 Inserted by Act 16 of 2000 (w.e.f. 12-05-2000).
3
(h) “plant” includes all horticultural or agricultural crops, trees, bushes or herbs and also includes the seed, fruit, leaves, trunk, roots, bark or cutting or any part thereof;
(i) “plant disease” means any fungoid, bacterial virus, vegetable organism, parasitical or other disease, declared to be a plant disease under section 3;
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(k) “State” means the State of Kerala.