The PUDUCHERRY LAND ENCROACHMENT ACT, 1970
puducherry · 1971
The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.
- S. 1(1) This Act may be called the Puducherry Land Encroachment Act, 1970
- S. 2Section 2 defines key terms used in the Puducherry Land Encroacher Act, 1970, including "Government," "prescribed," and "Union territory."
- S. 3Section 3 declares government ownership of public roads, water bodies, and lands not held under specific tenures, except for temple sites or house-site backyards.
- S. 4Section 4 imposes fines on unauthorized government land occupiers, with rates based on assessed or unassessed land values.
- S. 5Section 5 states that assessment decisions under section 4 are final and cannot be challenged in civil court.
- S. 6Section 6 imposes penalties for unauthorized land occupation, with varying fines based on land assessment status.
- S. 7Section 7 mandates officials to serve a notice to occupants of government land to show cause for unauthorized occupation before proceeding with penalties.
- S. 8Section 8 allows unauthorized land occupiers to be charged as land revenue arrears and appeals are possible.
- S. 9Section 9 allows appeals against land encroachment decisions from Tahsildar to Deputy Collector, Collector, and finally to the Government.
- S. 10Section 10 allows for revision of decisions under the Act by Collector or Government, ensuring due process and legal grounds for revision.
- S. 11Section 11 allows authorities to stay execution of decisions pending appeal or revision proceedings.
- S. 12Section 12 sets time limits for appeals and revisions under the Puducherry Land Encroacher Act, with exceptions for late submissions due to valid reasons.
- S. 13Section 13 requires that petitions, appeals, or applications under the Act include the original decision or an authenticated copy.
- S. 14Section 14 ensures unauthorized land occupiers remain liable under existing laws, with no double penalties for the same occupation.
- S. 15Section 15 limits civil court recourse for land encroachment disputes to six months from penalty levy.
- S. 16Section 16 deems lessees or grantees remaining on government land after lease expiry or resumption as unauthorised occupants.
- S. 17Section 17 exempts lands claimed by right of escheat or reversion from the Act until possession is taken by the Government.
- S. 18(1) The Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act
- S. 19Section 19 allows the Government to issue orders to resolve difficulties in implementing the Act, but not after two years from its commencement.
- S. 20Section 20 repeals previous laws in Puducherry and preserves existing rights, proceedings, and penalties under those laws.