The PUDUCHERRY LAND REFORMS (FIXATION OF CEILING ON LAND) ACT, 1973

puducherry · 1974

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S. 1(1) This Act may be called the Puducherry Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1973
S. 2Section 2 defines key terms used in the Act, including "agriculture," "agricultural company," and "ceiling area."
S. 3The net annual income from the land shall be the amount of fair rent less the land revenue
S. 4Section 4 sets a land ceiling limit of 6 hectares for families of up to five members and additional land for each extra member, up to a maximum of 12 hectares.
S. 5Section 5 declares land reserved for a public trust's founder as his property for ceiling purposes.
S. 6Section 6 sets the maximum compensation for government-acquired land in Puducherry at 5,000 rupees per hectare, with a declining multiplier based on the land's net annual income.
S. 7Section 7 mandates landowners in excess of the ceiling area to submit detailed land holding returns to authorized officers within 30 days.
S. 8Section 8 mandates authorized officers to require landholders exceeding ceiling limits to submit accurate returns and obtain necessary information if returns are incomplete.
S. 9Section 9 details the preparation of draft statements by authorized officers on land exceeding the ceiling area based on returns and information.
S. 10Section 10 allows an authorized officer to decide land title disputes summarily or refer them to the Land Tribunal for substantial legal or factual questions.
S. 11Section 11 details the process for the authorised officer to declare and publish surplus land after considering objections and orders.
S. 12Section excludes land with pending title disputes from ceiling calculations, declaring excess land as surplus if over limit.
S. 13Section 13 mandates the authorized officer to amend or prepare final land statements post-title dispute resolution.
S. 14Section 14 allows authorized officers to correct mistakes in land ceiling statements on their own or upon application.
S. 15Section 15 regulates the reversion of excess land held by a possessory mortgagee to the mortgagor and conditions for government acquisition if reversion does not occur.
S. 16Section 16 deals with the reversion of excess tenant-held land to the owner and compensation to tenants for continued tenancy.
S. 17Section 17 declares surplus land acquired for public purposes, notifies affected parties, and extinguishes their rights.
S. 18Section 18 allows the Land Commissioner to include unrecorded land in the total held by a person for ceiling calculations under the Act.
S. 19Section 19 mandates written declarations on land transfers and registration, forwarding details to authorized officers for compliance checks.
S. 20Section 20 mandates the transfer of excess land over the ceiling limit to the government upon declaration by an authorized officer, after due process.
S. 21Section 21 mandates reporting to an authorized officer on land exceeding the ceiling area acquired by inheritance, bequest, sale, or decree.
S. 22Section 22 prohibits land transfers exceeding the ceiling area without government permission and allows recovery of excess land or fines for violations.
S. 23Section 23 regulates applications for land exceeding ceiling limits for non-agricultural industrial or commercial purposes, granting or denying permissions based on specified factors.
S. 24—
S. 25Section 25 outlines the process for resolving claims of mortgagees or charge holders on surplus land acquired under the Act.
S. 26Section 26 regulates the deposit and interest payment for surplus land acquired under the Act, directing interest to rightful possessors or encumbrancers.
S. 27Section 27 ensures that maintenance charges on surplus land are secured until the maintenance-holder's right ends.
S. 28Section 28 outlines the payment terms for tenants after land vests in the government, excluding certain payments.
S. 29Section 29 details the payment terms for land ceiling limits, including cash installments and interest.
S. 30Section 30 defines "cultivating tenant’s ceiling area" as 2 standard hectares held by a tenant who does not contribute personal labor.
S. 31Section 31 mandates cultivating tenants to report land holdings exceeding the ceiling limit and allows officers to request corrections or additional details.
S. 32Section 32 authorizes the government officer to take possession of excess land held by cultivating tenants, subject to notice and certain exceptions.
S. 33Section 33 establishes government as tenant of land owner, mandates rent payment, and outlines dispute resolution via Land Tribunal.
S. 34Section 34 directs an authorized officer to distribute seized land to landless or low-landholding individuals, preferably from Scheduled Castes and Tribes, subject to government rules and conditions.
S. 35Section 35 allows an authorized officer to summarily dispossess land distributed under section 34 if conditions are not met or rules are violated.
S. 36Section 36 provides compensation to tenants for continued tenancy after land possession is taken by an authorized officer, with specific payment details and dispute resolution.
S. 37Section 37 prevents courts from enforcing rent or other claims against the government for land held prior to possession under section 32.
S. 38Section 38 allows landowners to resume leased land for personal cultivation, treating the government as the tenant for such resumption.
S. 39Section 39 requires individuals to report land acquisitions exceeding the ceiling limit to an authorized officer.
S. 40The provisions of the Puducherry cultivating tenants Protection Act, 1970 (9 of 1971
S. 41Section 41 overrides conflicting provisions within the Act for consistency.
S. 42Section 42 exempts certain lands from the ceiling limits set by the Act, including government-held land, charitable institutions, religious institutions, and land under industrial or commercial use.
S. 43Section 43 exempts up to 40 hectares of land held by a sugarcane factory for research and development from the Act's provisions.
S. 44(1) The Government shall constitute as many Land Tribunals as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act
S. 45Section 45 grants Land Tribunals jurisdiction and powers of a civil court to decide land-related questions and appeals under the Act.
S. 46—
S. 47Section 47 allows aggrieved parties to appeal Land Tribunal decisions to the High Court within 30 days, with possible extensions.
S. 48Section 48 applies limitation rules from the 1963 Limitation Act to appeals under sections 46 and 47 of the 1973 Act.
S. 49Section 49 allows the Land Commissioner to review and correct any land reform proceedings for legality and propriety.
S. 50Section 50 establishes Land Tribunals as subordinate courts for High Court revision under the Civil Procedure Code.
S. 51Section 51 allows the High Court, Land Tribunal, or Land Commissioner to halt decisions pending their review under this chapter.
S. 52Section penalizes failure to submit required land return with imprisonment, fine, or both.
S. 53Section penalizes refusal to provide required information under section 68 with imprisonment, fine, or both.
S. 54Section penalizes false returns or information under the Act with up to two years' imprisonment or a fine.
S. 55Section penalizes false declarations before the registering authority with up to two years' imprisonment, fine, or both.
S. 56Section penalizes voluntary acquisition of land exceeding ceiling area with imprisonment, fine, or both.
S. 57Section penalizes willful contravention or obstruction of land reforms orders with up to one year imprisonment or fine up to 1,000 rupees.
S. 58Section penalizes removal of trees or structures on acquired land before disposal, up to one year imprisonment or fine.
S. 59Section 59 holds companies and responsible individuals liable for offenses, with exceptions for lack of knowledge or due diligence.
S. 60Section 60 restricts court jurisdiction to sub-divisional Magistrate for offences under the Act, requiring authorized officer's complaint.
S. 61Section 61 outlines rules for disposing acquired land and prioritizing dispossessed or reduced-holding persons.
S. 62Section 62 exempts land conversion due to improvements or government irrigation projects from ceiling area calculations.
S. 63Section 63 ensures that a family's land ceiling limit cannot be reduced due to a decrease in family members after the final statement publication.
S. 64Section 64 authorizes the government to issue general orders regarding the duties of authorized officers and Land Commissioners.
S. 65Section 65 allows the Land Commissioner to transfer land reform applications between authorized officers for resolution.
S. 66Section 66 mandates the authorized officer or Land Commissioner to provide the Government with required returns, statistics, and information.
S. 67Section 67 allows the authorised officer to request information from courts or authorities regarding pending proceedings.
S. 68Section 68 mandates authorised officers to request landholding information and allows them to obtain and verify it if not voluntarily provided.
S. 69Section 69 allows authorities discretion over costs for proceedings related to land ceiling in Puducherry.
S. 70Section 70 allows authorized officers to enter non-dwelling lands for surveys and measurements to enforce land ceiling regulations.
S. 71Section 71 bars civil court proceedings against authorities for actions taken in good faith under the Act.
S. 72Section 72 restricts civil court jurisdiction over land reform matters to specified authorities, barring legal practitioners before the authorized officer unless allowed.
S. 73Section 73 specifies the court fees for various legal proceedings under the Act, including suits, appeals, and revisions.
S. 74Section 74 allows the government to delegate Land Commissioner powers to other specified officers or authorities.
S. 75The section allows the Government to issue orders to resolve issues under the Act, but only within two years of notification.
S. 76(1) The Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act
S. 77Section 77 allows pending objections, claims, returns, or appeals against land decisions to be filed after regulation changes, as if they were made before.