The Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954
7. Rights of proprietors in waste lands, pasture lands or lands of common utility etc. to vest in Gaon Sabha and compensation to be paid for them. –
(1) All rights of an individual proprietor or proprietors pertaining to waste lands, grazing or collection of forest produce from forest or fish from fisheries lands of common utility, such as customary common pasture lands, cremation or burial grounds, abadi sites pathways, public wells, tanks and water channels, or Khalihans , whether covered by an existing contract between such proprietor or proprietors and any other person or not, shall with effect from the commencement of this Act be terminated in accordance with the provision of sub-section (2) and the said contracts, if any, shall become void with effect from such commencement:
[(Note: Ins. by s.5 of Delhi Act 16 of 1956) Provided that where such land was as a result of consolidation of holdings made available for use for any purposes other than those referred to in this sub-section, land kept aside in exchange thereof, as a result of such consolidation, shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be land originally meant for purposes referred to in this sub section].
Explanation – For the purposes of this sub-section-
(i) “Waste land” shall include cultivable and uncultivable waste area of the village (Note: The words “recorded as such on 1st July, 1950” rep. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959.)] [(Note: Ins. by s.5 of Delhi Act 16 of 1956) including any land in the bed of a river occupied or held by an Asami referred to in section 6 (a) (iii) of the Act ] [(Note: Subs. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959 for the words “except the uncultivated areas included in the holdings of such proprietor or proprietors”) except the uncultivated areas –
(a) Included in the holdings of such proprietor or proprietors, or
(b) Used for purposes other than those mentioned in clause (13) of section 3, at any time before the 28th day of October, 1956, or
(c) Acquired by a bona fide purchaser for value at any time before the 28th day of October, 1956, for purpose other than those mentioned in clause (13) of section 3.
(ii) “Lands of common utility” shall include such lands as are recorded as such at the last settlement or have been or would have been customarily recorded as such on 1st July, 1950.]
(2) On the commencement of this Act, the Deputy Commissioner shall pass an order in respect of the proprietor or proprietors of each village either singly or collectively divesting the individual proprietor or proprietors of the rights mentioned in sub- section (1) and vesting those rights in the Goan Sabha (Note: The words “consisting of all the adults residents of the village” Rep. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959) or in any person or authority appointed by the Chief Commissioner under section 161 with effect from the commencement of this Act and stating that a compensation equal in value to four times the amount of annual land revenue assessed at the last settlement for the cultivable and uncultivable waste area of the village (Note: The words “recorded as such on 1st July, 1950” rep. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959) shall be paid by the government to the proprietor or proprietors concerned.
[(Note: Ins. by s.5 of Delhi Act 16 of 1956) If no such assessment of land revenue was made at the last settlement the rate of land revenue applied at the last settlement for similar areas in any other village in the same assessment circle shall be taken to be the rate of land revenue applicable to such areas or failing this the rate of land revenue applicable to such areas shall be computed at 75 per cent of the land revenue assessed on the lowest class of soil in the village.]
(3) The amount of compensation shall be calculated separately for each village for the respective proprietor or proprietors in accordance with rules made under this Act and payments thereof shall be made in such number of annual installments, [(Note: Subs. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959 for the words, “not exceeding two, as the Chief Commissioner may determine, commencing from the fasli year next following the commencement of this Act.”) not exceeding four, as the Chief Commissioner may determine, the first of which shall be paid
(a) In any case where such calculation has been made before the date on which the Delhi Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1959, receives the assent of the President, on the first day of fasli year next following such date; and
(b) In any other case, on the first day of the fasli year next following the date of such calculation.]
[(4) (Note: Ins. by s.5 of Central Act 4 of 1959) Where the amount of compensation is not paid by the due date specified in sub-section (3), such amount shall be paid with interest thereon at the rate of 21/2 percent. Per annum from the said date until payment.
The Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954
