N.R.C.D.344 Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine Act, 1975 22. Exemption from rates and taxes Subject to article 174 of the Constitution, the Centre shall for its own purposes be ex- " empted from the payment of the taxes rates and duties approved in writing by the Minister responsible for Finance. 23. Transitional provision The Director and the employees of the Centre holding office immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been duly appointed under this Act. 24. Interpretation In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, "Centre" means the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine and any other Centre established by the Government on the advice of the Council; "financial year" means financial year of the Government; "functions" includes powers and duties; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for Health; . "scientific research" includes research into social, cultural and any other aspects of plant medicine; "research officer" means an officer of a status comparable to that of a university teacher or a person belonging to the academic staff of any of the Universities. II - 2707 [Issue 1]