(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Short title, National Volunteer Force Act, 1949. extent and
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(3) It shall come into force on the date on which the West Bengal National Volunteer Force Ordinance, 1948, ceases to operate.
2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in Definitions.
the subject or context,— •
(a) "Advisory Committee" means the Provincial Advisory Committee, the District Advisory Committee or the Unit Advisory Committee constituted under section 15;
(b) "Calcutta" means the town of Calcutta as defined in section 3 of the Calcutta Police Act, 1866, together with the suburbs of Calcutta as defined by notification under section 1 of the Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866;
(c) "Force" means the West Bengal National Volunteer Force ;
(d) "Officer" means an officer appointed under this Act;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(f) "subordinate other ranks" means subordinate other ranks appointed under this Act; and
(g) "volunteer" means a person enrolled as a member of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force.
3. The Provincial Government may raise and maintain Constitua volunteer force to be called the West Bengal National tion of Volunteer Force and for that purpose enrol persons as the volunteers from Calcutta and elsewhere in West Bengal:
National Volunteer
Provided that the Provincial Government may establish Force.
all or any of the units of the Force as and when necessary.
commencement.
2 The West Bengal National Volunteer Force Act, 1949.
[W. Ben. Act (Sections 4-8.)
4. A volunteer, when called upon for duty, shall discharge such functions in relation to the protection of persons, the security of property and the preservation of the public peace in any area within West Bengal and such other functions as may be assigned to him by or under this Act.
5. The Provincial Government or any person empowered in. this behalf by the Provincial Government may appoint a Provincial Commandant of the Force and such other officers and such subordinate other ranks for, and for any unit of, the Force as the Provincial Government may consider necessary and may prescribe the powers and duties of such officers and subordinate other ranks in addition to the powers and duties conferred by this Act. Every officer and subordinate other rank shall have the privileges and protec tion conferred on an officer or subordinate other rank by or under this Act.
Functions.
Appointment of officers and subordinate other ranks.
Officers 8. There shall be the following classes of officers and and suhor- subordinate other ranks in the Force, namely :— dinate other ranks in the Officers.
Force. (1) Provincial Commandant,
(2) Deputy Provincial Commandant,
(3) District or Unit Commandant,
(4) Company Commander.
Subordinate other ranks.
(1) Platoon Commander,
(2) Section Commander.
7. Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act, the Provincial Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that one or more corps or units of the Force be constituted or formed for any particular region within West Bengal or for any specified purpose.