Unit V

THE CHILD LABOUR (Prohibition and Regulation) ACT, 1986

I OBJECT:

To prohibit the engagement of children in certain employment’s and to regulate the conditions of work or children in certain other employment’s.

Definition:

Child: Child means a person who has not completed his fourteen years of age.

II APPLICABILITY: In extends to the whole of India.

III PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS AND PROCESSES:

No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the following occupations: Set forth in part of ‘A’ of the schedule or in any workshop where in any of the process set forth in part ‘B’ of the schedule to this Act

IV CHILD LABOUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

The central government may by notification constitute a child Labour technical advisory committee to advise the central govt. for the purpose of addition of occupations to the schedule of the Act. (Section-5).

V HOURS AND PERIOD OF WORK:

No child shall be required or permitted to work in any establishment in excess of number of hours prescribed (Section-7) In Kerala the working hours in limited to four and half hours in a day. (Rule -3).

The period of work on each day shall not exceed three hours and no child shall work for more than three hours before he has had an interval for rest for at least one hour. No child shall be permitted or required to work between 7 P.m. and 8 a.m. No child shall be required or permitted to work overtime. (Section-7).

VI WEEKLY HOLIDAY:

Every child shall be allowed in each week a holiday of one whole day. (Section-8).

VII NOTICE TO INSPECTOR:

Every occupier shall within 30 days send a written notice in Form-A to the inspector within whose local limits the establishment is situated. (Section-8 read with Rule-4).

VIII DISPUTES AS TO AGE:

If any question arises between an inspector and an occupier as to the age of any child, in the absence of a certificate in Form-C as to the age of such child granted by the prescribed medical authority, be referred by the inspector for

decision to the prescribed medical authority. ( A govt. medical officer not below the rank of an Assistant surgeon of a district or on officers having equivalent rank in ESI Dispensaries or hospitals (Section-10 read with Rule -16)

Ix REGISTERS:

Every occupier of an establishment shall maintain a register in respect of children employed or permitted to work at the establishment in F orm-B. (Sect. II read with Rule-15)

X DISPLAY OF NOTICE:

Every occupier shall display in the establishment the abstract of section-3 and 14 in form-D of the Act (Section 12 read with Rule-17)

XI PENALITIES:

Violations under Section-3 shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than three months which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both. Continuing offence under section (3) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years. Any other violations under the Act shall be punishable with simple imprisonment, which may extend to one month or with fine, which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.

XII WHO CAN FILE PROSECUTIONS:

1. Any person

2. Police Officer

THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005.

Object of the Right to Information Act

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. An informed citizenry will be better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed. The Act has created a practical regime through which the citizens of the country may have access to information under the control of public authorities.

What is Information

6. The information to the applicant shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought. However, if the supply of information sought in a particular form would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or may cause harm to the safety or preservation of the records, supply of information in that form may be denied.

7. The Act gives the right to information only to the citizens of India. It does not make provision for giving information to Corporations, Associations, Companies etc. which are legal entities/persons, but not citizens. However, if an application is made by an employee or office-bearer of any Corporation, Association, Company, NGO etc. who is also a citizen of India, information shall be supplied to him/her, provided the applicant gives his/her full name. In such cases, it will be presumed that a citizen has

sought information at the address of the Corporation etc.

Exemptions from Disclosure

8. The right to seek information from a public authority is not absolute. Sections 8 and 9 of the Act enumerate the categories of information which are exempt from disclosure. At the same time Schedule II of the Act contains the names of the Intelligence and Security Organisations which are exempt from the purview of the Act. The exemption of the organisations, however, does not cover supply of

information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

9. The applicants should abstain from seeking information which is exempt under Section 8 and 9 and also from the organizations included in the Second Schedule except information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

Central Public Information Officers

10. Application for seeking information should be made to an officer of the public authority who is designated as Central Public Information Officer (CPIO). All the public authorities have designated their Central Public Information Officers and have posted their particulars on their respective web-sites. This information is also available on the 'RTI PORTAL' ("www.rti.gov.in). Persons seeking information are advised to refer to the web-site of the concerned public authority or the 'RTI PORTAL' for

ascertaining the name of the concerned CPIO. If it is found difficult to identify or locate the concerned Central Public Information Officer of a public authority, application may be sent to the Central Public Information Officer without specifying the name of the CPIO at the address of the public authority.

Assistance Available From CPIOs

11. The Central Public Information Officer shall render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking information. If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the CPIO to write his application. Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorily disabled person to any document, the Central Public Information Officer, shall provide such assistance to enable access to information, including providing such assistance to the person as may be appropriate for the inspection.

Suo Motu Disclosure

12. The Act makes it obligatory for every public authority to make suo-motu disclosure in respect of the particulars of its organization, functions, duties etc. as provided in section 4 of the Act. Besides, some public authorities under the Central Government have published other information and have posted them on their websites.

Method of Seeking Information

13. A citizen who desires to obtain any information under the Act, should make an application to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the concerned public authority in writing in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is made. The applicant can send the application by post or through electronic means or can deliver it personally in the office of the public authority. The

application can also be sent through a Central Assistant Public Information Officer appointed by the Department of Post at sub-divisional level or other sub-district level.

Fee for Seeking Information

14. The applicant, along with the application, should send a demand draft or a banker's cheque or an Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten), payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority as fee prescribed for seeking information. The payment of fee can also be made by way of cash to the Accounts Officer of the public authority or to the Central Assistant Public Information Officer against proper receipt.

15. The applicant may also be required to pay further fee towards the cost of providing the information, details of which shall be intimated to the applicant by the CPIO as prescribed by the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Rates of fee as prescribed in the Rules are given below:

(a) rupees two (Rs. 2/-) for each page ( in A 4 or A-3 size paper) created or copied;

(b) actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper;

(c) actual cost or price for samples or models;

(d) for inspection of records, no fee for the first hour; and a fee of rupees five (Rs.5/-) for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof);

(e) for information provided in diskette or floppy rupees fifty (Rs.50/-) per diskette or floppy; and

(f) for information provided in printed form at the price fixed for such publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication.

16. If the applicant belongs to below poverty line (BPL) category, he is not required to pay any fee. However, he should submit a proof in support of his claim to belong to the below poverty line. The application not accompanied by the prescribed fee of Rs.10/- or proof of the applicant's belonging to below poverty line, as the case may be, shall not be a valid application under the Act and therefore, does not entitle the applicant to get information.

Format of Application

17. There is no prescribed form of application for seeking information. The application can be made on plain paper. The application should, however, have the name and complete postal address of the applicant. Even in cases where the information is sought electronically, the application should contain name and postal address of the applicant.

18. The information seeker is not required to give reasons for seeking information.

Disposal of the Request

19. The CPIO is required to provide information to the applicant within thirty days of the receipt of a valid application. If the information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the information shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request. If the CPIO is of the view that the information sought for cannot be supplied under the provisions of the Act, he would reject the application. However, while rejecting the application, he shall inform the applicant the reasons for such rejection and the particulars of the appellate authority. He would also inform the applicant the period within which appeal may be preferred.

20. If an applicant is required to make payment for obtaining information, in addition to the application fee, the Central Public Information Officer would inform the applicant about the details of further fees alongwith the calculation made to arrive at the amount payable by the applicant. After receiving such a communication from the CPIO, the applicant may deposit the amount by way of cash against proper receipt or by Demand Draft or by Banker's cheque or by Indian Postal Order in favour of the Accounts Officer of the concerned public authority. The CPIO is under no obligation to make available the information if the additional fee intimated by him is not deposited by the applicant.

21. Where an additional fee is required to be paid, the period intervening between the dispatch of the intimation regarding payment of additional fee and payment of fee by the applicant shall be excluded for the purpose of computing the period of thirty days within which the CPIO is required to furnish the information.

22. If the CPIO fails to send decision on the request on the information within the period of thirty days or forty-eight hours, as the case may be, the information may be deemed to have been refused.

The Central Information Commission decides the appeals and complaints and conveys its decision to the appellant/complainant and first appellate authority/CPIO. The Commission may decide an appeal/complaint after hearing the parties to the appeal/complaint or by inspection of documents produced by the appellant/complainant and CPIO or such senior officer of the public authority who decided the first appeal. If the Commission chooses to hear the parties before deciding the appeal or the complaint, the Commission will inform of the date of hearing to the appellant or the complainant at least seven clear days before the date of hearing. The appellant/complainant has the discretion to be present in person or through his authorized representative at the time of hearing or may opt not to be present.

THE IMMORAL TRAFFIC (PREVENTION) ACT, 1956

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called The Immoral Traffic (Prevention)

Act, 1956.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) This section shall come into force at once; and the remaining provisions of this come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.

(e)“prostitution“ means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes or for consideration in money or in any other kind, and the expression “prostitute” shall be construed accordingly;

(f) “protective home“ means an institution, by whatever name called (being an institution established or licenced as such under Section 21), in which persons who are in need of care and protection, may be kept under this Act and where appropriate technically qualified persons, equipments and other facilities have been provided but does not include,—

3. Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing premises to be used as a brothel.— (1) Any person who

keeps or manages, or acts or assists in the keeping or management of, a brothel shall be punishable on first

conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and which may extend to three

years and also with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and in the event of a second or

subsequent conviction, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years and

which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to two lakh rupees

(2) a any person who,—

(a) being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises, uses, or knowingly allows any other person to use, such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, or

(b)being the owner, lessor or landlord of any premises or the agent of such owner, lessor or landlord, lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that the same or any part thereof is intended to be used as a brothel, or is wilfully a party to the use of such premises or any part thereof as a brothel,

shall be punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine.

(2-A) For the purposes of sub-section (2), it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of that sub-section, is knowingly allowing the premises or any part thereof to be used as a brothel or, as the case may be, has knowledge that the premises or any part thereof are being used as a brothel, if,—

(a) a report is published in a newspaper having circulation in the area in which such person resides to the effect that the premises or any part thereof have been found to be used for prostitution as a result of a search made under this Act; or

(b)a copy of the list of all things found during the search referred to in clause (a) is given to such person.

(3) Notwithstanding any thing contained in any other law for the time being in force, on conviction of any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (d) of sub-section (2) of any offence under that sub-section in respect of any premises or any part thereof, any lease or agreement under which such premises have been leased out or held or occupied at the time of the commission of the offence, shall become void and inoperative with effect from the date of the said conviction.

4. Punishment for living on the earnings of prostitution .—(1) Any person over the age of eighteen years

who knowingly lives, wholly or in part, on the earnings of the prostitution of any other person shall be

punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to

one thousand rupees, or with both, and where such earnings relate to the prostitution of a child, shall be

punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years.

(2) Where any person over the age of eighteen years is proved,—

to be living with,or to be habitually in the company of, a prostitute; or

to have exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of a prostitute in such a manner as to show that such person is aiding abetting or compelling her prostitution; or

(c)to be acting as a tout or pimp on behalf of a prostitute,

it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that such person is knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution of another person within the meaning of sub-section (1).

5. Procuring, inducing or taking person for the sake of prostitution .—(1) Any person who—

(a) procures or attempts to procure a person whether with or without his/her consent, for the purpose of prostitution; or

(b)induces a person to go from any place, with the intent that he/she may for the purpose of prostitution become the inmate of, or frequent, a brothel; or

(c) takes or attempts to take a person or causes a person to be taken, from one place to another with a view to his/her carrying on, or being brought up to carry on prostitution ; or

(d)causes or induces a person to carry on prostitution;

shall be punishable on conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than seven years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and if any offence under this sub-section is committed against the will of any person, the punishment of imprisonment for a term of seven years shall extend to imprisonment for a term of fourteen years:

Provided that if the person in respect of whom an offence committed under this subsection, is a child, the punishment provided under this sub-section shall extend to rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but may extend to life.

(3) An offence under this section shall be triable,—

(a) in the place from which a person is procured, induced to go, taken or caused to be taken or from which an attempt to procure or taken such persons made; or

(b)in the place to which she may have gone as a result of the inducement or to which he/she is taken or caused to be taken or an attempt to take him/her is made.

PROTECTION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

Chapter One

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. (1) This law governs the rights of individuals having suffered from domestic violence, the protection measures, and the procedure applicable to the imposition of such measures.

(2) Liability under this Act shall not preclude the civil and the criminal liability of the respondent.

2. Domestic violence is any act of physical, mental or sexual violence, and any attempted such violence, as well as the forcible restriction of individual freedom and of privacy, carried out against individuals who have or have had family or kinship ties or cohabit or dwell in the same home.

3. Protection under this Act may be sought by any individual having suffered from domestic violence applied by:

a spouse or former spouse;

a person with whom that individual cohabits or has co-habited;

a person with whom that individual has a child;

an ascendant;

a descendant;

a sibling;

a relative by affinity up to the second degree;

a guardian or foster parent.

4. (1) In the event of domestic violence the victim has the right to refer to the court to seek protection.

(2) In cases where data exists showing a direct and imminent threat to the life or health of the victim, the latter may file an application with the police authorities for the imposition of emergency measures pursuant to section 76 of the Ministry of Interior Act. The bodies of the Ministry of Interior shall forward to the court the application together with the explanations of the respondent, if such explanations have been provided, and the record drawn of any measures imposed, while depicting the circumstances that call for emergency court protection.

(3) At the request of the victim, any medical doctor must issue a document to establish in writing any injuries or traces of violence found by that doctor.

5. (1) Protection against domestic violence shall be implemented through any of the following:

placing the respondent under an obligation to refrain from applying domestic violence;

removing the respondent from the common dwelling-house for a period specified by the court;

prohibiting the respondent from getting in the vicinity of the home, the place of work, and the places where the victim has his or her social contacts or recreation, on such terms and conditions and for such a period as is specified by the court;

temporarily relocating the residence of the child with the parent who is the victim or with the parent who has not carried out the violent act at stake, on such terms and conditions and for such a period as is specified by the court, provided that this is not inconsistent with the best interests of the child;

placing the respondent under an obligation to attend specialised programmes;

advising the victims to attend recovery programmes.

(2) The measures under subsection 1, points 2, 3, and 4 shall be imposed for a period from one month to one year.

(3) In any case, with its order under section 15(1) the court shall also make the respondent liable to a fine in the range between 200 and 1000 Levs.

6. (1) The State shall ensure the implementation of programmes aimed at the prevention of and protection against domestic violence, as well as programmes providing assistance to the victims.

(2) The bodies of the Executive branch shall select and train the persons in charge of protection by virtue of this Act.

(3) The bodies of the Executive branch and the natural and legal persons registered by virtue of section 18(2) and (3) of the Social Assistance Act shall work jointly to provide protection to the victims of domestic violence.

(4) The persons referred to in subsection 3 shall develop, organise the implementation of, and implement the programmes under section 5(1), points 5 and 6.

Chapter Two

PROCEEDINGS TO IMPOSE PROTECTION MEASURES AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Division I

General Provisions

7. (1) The court competent to impose a measure shall be the regional court in the area where the current address of the victim is found or, in the cases referred to in section 4(2), the regional court in the area of the local police department where protection was sought.

(2) The court before which there is pending litigation between the victim and the respondent or litigation involving any of them based on a provision of the Family Code or of the Child Protection Act shall be competent to impose a protection measure at any stage of the proceeding.

8. The proceeding for issuing an order may be instituted:

on an application by the victim;

at the request of the Director of the Social Assistance Directorate;

whenever emergency court protection is sought, on an application by a sibling or by a person who is a relative to the victim in the direct line irrespective of the degree of kinship.

9. (1) The application or request shall be in writing and must contain:

1. the names, the address, and the personal ID number of the applicant or the individual having filed the request; if a victim cannot or is unwilling to disclose his or her address, he or she may identify an address for litigation purposes;

2. the names and the current address of the respondent or any other address where the latter may be summoned, including a telephone and fax number;

3. data concerning the family, kinship or factual ties between the victim and the respondent;

4. a description of the facts and circumstances under which domestic violence occurred;

5. a signature.

(2) In the cases referred to in section 8, points 2 and 3 the court shall, ex officio, involve the victim as a party.

(3) A statement by the applicant concerning the violence applied shall also be enclosed to the application under section 8, point 1.

(4) At the request of the applicant the court shall seek ex officio in respect of the respondent a criminal record certificate, information concerning any measures imposed under this Act, and a certificate showing whether or not the respondent is registered at any psychiatric establishment.

10. (1) The application or request shall be filed within one month as from the date on which the act of domestic violence occurred.

(2) The application or request shall be entered in a special register and assigned on the date of filing.

(3) In the cases referred to in section 4(2) the application shall be filed via the nearest local police department.

11. (1) No costs shall be charged upon filing an application under section 8, points 1 and 3.

(2) Upon issuing the order, the court shall award the costs and expenses to the respondent.

(3) In the event of refusal to issue an order or if the order is revoked, the costs and expenses shall be charged to the applicant, while in the cases referred to in section 8, point 2 the expenses shall be incurred by the Social Assistance Agency.

Division II

Hearing of Case

12. (1) On the day on which the application or request is filed the court shall schedule an open hearing to take place not later than 30 days thereafter and shall serve the writ of summons and a copy of the application or request with their enclosures on the defendant, while notifying the latter of his or her obligation to produce evidence.

(2) In the cases under section 8, points 2 and 3 the victim shall be summoned as well.

(3) Where necessary, the writ of summons shall be served with the assistance of the police authorities or of the mayor.

13. (1) The evidentiary means defined in the Code of Civil Procedure shall be admissible in the proceeding for issuing a protection order.

(2) The following may also serve as evidentiary means in a proceeding under subsection 1:

records, reports, and any other acts issued by the Social Assistance Directorates, by medical doctors, as well as by psychologists having provided counselling to the victim;

documents issued by legal persons providing welfare services and entered in a register at the Social Assistance Agency;

the statement made by virtue of section 9(3).

(3) Where no other evidence exists, the court shall issue a protection order solely based on the statement made by virtue of section 9(3).

14. (1) Where it appears from the data in the application or request that the bodies of the Ministry of Interior and other state government agencies possess documentary evidence of perpetrated domestic violence, the relevant body or agency shall forthwith issue authenticated copies of such documents at the request of the victim or his or her representative or attorney, or at the request of the court.

(2) Anyone who had to issue a document or copy by virtue of subsection 1 but failed to do so shall be liable to a fine of 100 Levs imposed by the court in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure.

15. (1) The court shall pronounce by delivering a judgment in an open hearing.

(2) Where the application or request is granted the court shall issue a protection order.

16. (1) With the protection order, the court shall impose one or more protection measures.

(2) The order must contain notification of the effects of any failure to comply therewith as set out in section 21(2).

(3) The judgment and the order shall be served on the parties, and where a measure under section 5(1), points 1, 2 and 3 is imposed they shall also be served on the local police department in the area where the current address of the respondent and the address of the victim are located.

17. (1) The judgment may be appealed against before the district court within seven days as from its service. The appeal shall be lodged via the court having delivered the impugned judgment, and a copy for the other party shall be attached. New evidence may be enclosed to the appeal as well.

(2) The appeal shall not stay the execution of the judgment.

(3) The regional court shall forward a copy of the appeal and of the enclosures thereto to the other party who may, within three days as from their receipt, file objections and invoke new evidence. After the expiration of that time limit, the appeal together with the enclosures and objections shall be forwarded to the district court.

(4) The district court shall handle the appeal within 14 days, in open court, the parties being summoned in accordance with section 12, and shall pronounce by delivering a judgment on the merits whereby it upholds or reverses or varies the judgment appealed against. Where it decides to vary the order, the court shall issue a new order.

(5) The judgment of the district court shall be final.

18. (1) Where the application or request contains data concerning a direct and impending threat to the life or health of the victim, the regional court, sitting ex parte and in camera, shall issue an emergency protection order within 24 hours as from receipt of the application or request.

(2) The order under subsection 1 shall be served on the parties and forwarded ex officio to the local police department.

(3) Where it appears from the data on the file that measures should be undertaken under the Child Protection Act, the court shall notify the Director of the Social Assistance Directorate.

(4) The court shall schedule an open hearing to take place not later than 30 days thereafter and shall serve the writ of summons and a copy of the application or request with their enclosures on the defendant, while notifying the latter of his or her obligation to produce evidence.

(2) In the cases under section 8, points 2 and 3 the victim shall be summoned as well.

(3) Where necessary, the writ of summons shall be served with the assistance of the police authorities or of the mayor.

19. An emergency protection order shall have effect up until a protection order is issued or until the court refuses the application or request.

Division III

Execution of Protection Order

20. A protection order shall be subject to immediate execution.

21. (1) The police authorities shall see to it that the order is executed where a measure under section 5(1), points 1, 2 and 3 has been imposed by virtue of such order.

(2) In the event of failure to comply with the court order, the police authority having found such failure shall arrest the offender and notify forthwith the prosecutorial authorities.

22. The court shall issue ex officio a writ of execution in respect of any fines imposed and of the stamp duties and costs awarded.

Final Provisions

1. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis to any matters not explicitly covered by this Act.

2. The Minister of Interior, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and Science, and the Minister of Finance shall develop, within 6 months as from the entry of this Act into force, a Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Programme.

3. The State shall assist the municipalities and the non-profit legal entities with setting up and supporting services and centres designed to implement the measures under section 5(1), points 5 and 6.

4. The persons registered by virtue of section 18(2) and (3) of the Social Assistance Act which provide welfare services and recovery programmes to victims of domestic violence or specialised programmes to perpetrators of such violence must provide the court with a list of available services and programmes.

5. In section 63(3) of the Ministry of Interior Act (promulgated, State Gazette, issue 122 of 1997, issue 29 of 1998 – Judgment No. 3 of the Constitutional Court of 1998; amended, issues 70, 73, and 153 of 1998, issues 30 and 110 of 1999, issues 1 and 29 of 2000, issue 28 of 2001, issues 45 and 119 of 2002, issues 17, 26, 95, 103, 112, and 114 of 2003, issues 15, 70, and 89 of 2004, issues 11 and 19 of 2005), a new third sentence is inserted: “In the event of domestic violence a copy of the notification record shall be provided to the victim upon request.”

This Act was passed by the XXXIXth National Assembly and the official seal of the National Assembly is affixed thereto.