THE ADMINISTRATION
OF EVACUEE
PROPERTY ACT, 1950
CONTENTS
Preliminary
2. Definitions
3. Repeated
Evacuee Property and vesting thereof in the Custodian
5. Appointment
of Custodian-General, Deputy Custodian-General, etc.
6. Appointment
of Custodians, etc.
7. Notification
of evacuee property
7-A. Property not
to be declared evacuee property on or after 7th May, 1954
8. Vesting of
evacuee property in the Custodian
9. Power of
Custodian to take possession of evacuee property vested in him
10. Powers and
duties of the Custodian generally
10-A. Power to
recover rent or damages in respect of evacuee property vested in the Custodian
11. Special provisions with respect to certain trust properties
12. Power to
vary or cancel leases or allotments of evacuee property
12-A. Special provisions with respect to transfer of tenancy right of
evacuees
13. Payments to
Custodian to be valid discharge
14. Recouping
of expenditure by Custodian
15. Maintenance
of accounts by Custodian
16. Restoration
of evacuee property
Certain Consequences of Property Vesting in Custodian
17. Exemption
of evacuee property from processes of Court, etc.
18. Occupancy
or tenancy rights not to be extinguished
CHAPTER IV-Secs. 19 to 23-Repealed
Appeals, Review and Revision
24. Appeals
from orders under Sees. 7, 40 and 48
25. Repealed
26. Repealed
27. Powers of
revision of Custodian-General
28. Finality of
orders under this chapter
Penalties and Procedure
29. Repealed
30. Repealed
31. Repeated
32. Penalty for causing
damage to evacuee property
33. Repeated
34. Penalty for
offences not expressly provided for
35. Repeated
39. Offences may
be tried summarily
Miscellaneous
40. Validity of
transfer respecting property subsequently declared to be evacuee property
41. Transactions
relating to evacuee property void in certain circumstances
42. Repealed
43. Vesting of
property in Custodian not affected by death of evacuee, etc.
44. Certain
officers to be public servants
45. Powers of
the Custodian while holding inquiry
46. Jurisdiction
of Civil Courts barred in certain matters
47. Protection
of action taken in good faith
48. Recovery of
certain sums as arrears of land revenue
49. Record to
be public documents
50. Notice of
suits to the Custodian
51. Fees
payable to the Custodian
52. Power to
exempt
54. Power of
Central Government to take action with regard to evacuee property
57. Temporary
amendment of Sec. 54 of the Indian Income tax Act, 1922
THE ADMINISTRATION
OF EVACUEE
PROPERTY ACT, 1950
(Act No. 31 of 1950)
An Act to provide for the administration
of evacuee property and
for certain matters
connected therewith
[17th April 1950]
Be it enacted by Parliament as follows:
CHAPTER I
Preliminary
1. Short title and extent.
--
(1) This Act may be called the Administration of
Evacuee Property Act, 1950.
(2) It
extends to the whole of India except 1[the, territories which immediately before the
1st November, 1956, were comprised in the States] of Assam, West Bengal,
Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.
1. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No.3)
Order, 1956, for “the States”.
2. Definitions. -In this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires, -
(a) “Allotment” means the grant by a person
duly authorized in this behalf of a right of use of occupation of any
immoveable evacuee property to any other person, but does not include a grant
by way of lease:
(b) “Custodian-General”
means the Custodian-General of Evacuee Property in India appointed by the
Central Government under Sec. 5;
(c) “Custodian” means the Custodian for the
State, and includes any Additional, Deputy or Assistant Custodian of Evacuee
Property appointed in that State:
(d) “Evacuee”
means any person, -
(i) Who,
on account of the setting up of the Dominions of India and Pakistan or on account
of civil disturbances or the fear of such disturbances, leaves or has, on or
after the 1st day of March, 1947, left, any place in a State for any
place outside the territories now forming part of India, or
(ii) Who is
resident in any place now forming part of Pakistan and who for that reason is
unable to occupy, supervise or manage in person his property in any part of the
territories to which this Act extends, or whose property in any part of the
said territories has ceased to be occupied, supervised or manage by any person
or is being occupied, supervised or managed by an unauthorized person, or
(iii) Who
has, after the 14th day of August, 1947, obtained, otherwise than by
way of purchase or exchange, any right to, interest in or benefit from any
property which is treated as evacuee or abandoned property under any law for
the time being in force in Pakistan, 1[for]
1(iv) Who has, after the 18th day of October,
1949, transferred to Pakistan, without the previous approval of the Custodian,
his assets or any part, of his assets situated in any part of the territories
to which this Act extends, or
(v) Who has
after the 18th day of October, 1949, acquired, if the acquisition has been made
in person, by way of purchase or exchange or, if the acquisition has been made
by or through a member of his family, in any manner whatsoever, any right to,
interest in, or benefit from, any property which is treated as evacuee or
abandoned property under any law for the time being in force in Pakistan.)
2[Explanation I. -For
the purposes of sub-clause (iii), the acquisition of any right to, interest in
or benefit from any such property as is referred to in that sub-clause by a
firm, private limited company or trust of which any person or any member of the
family of such person wholly dependent on him for the ordinary necessaries of
life is a partner, member or beneficiary, as the case may be, shall be deemed
to be an acquisition by that person within the meaning of that sub-clause.
3[Explanation
II. - For the purposes of sub-clause (iv), the
transfer to Pakistan by any person of any reasonable sum of money in accordance
with the rules made in this behalf by the Central Government for the purpose of
financing any transaction in the ordinary course of his trade or for the
maintenance of any member of the family of such person shall not be deemed to
be a transfer of his assets within the meaning of that sub-clause.
Explanation III. -For the purposes of
sub-clause (v), the acquisition of any right to, interest in, or benefit from,
any such property as is referred to in that sub-clause by a firm, private
limited company or trust of which any person is a partner, member or
beneficiary, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be an acquisition by that
person of such right, interest or benefit within the meaning of that
sub-clause;]
(e) 4[* * *]
(f) 5[“Evacuee property” means any property of
an evacuee (whether held by him as owner or as a trustee or as a
beneficiary or as a tenant or in any other capacity), and includes any property
which has been obtained by any person from an evacuee after the 14th day of
August, 1947, by any mode of transfer which is not effective by reason of the
provisions contained in Sec. 40,] but does not include-
(i) Any
ornament and any wearing apparel, cooking vessels or other household effects in
the immediate possession of an evacuee,
(ii) Any
property belonging to a joint stock company, the registered office of which was
situated before the 15th day of August 1947, in any place now forming part of
Pakistan and continues to be so situated after the said date;
(g) “Member of the family” means any member
of the family of any person who is wholly dependent upon the earnings of such
person for the provisions of the ordinary necessaries of life or who shares
with such person in the ordinary expenses of the household to which they
jointly belong or who owns properties or carries on business jointly with such
person;
(h) “Prescribed”
means prescribed by rule made under this Act;
(i) “Property”
means property of any kind, and includes any right or interest in such
property;
(j) “Unauthorized
person” means any person (whether duly empowered in this behalf by the evacuee
or otherwise) who, after the 14th day of August, 1947, has been occupying, supervising
or managing the property of an evacuee without approval of the Custodian.
1. Ins.
by Act 11 of 1953. Sec. 2.
2. Renumbered
by ibid.
3. Renumbered
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 2.
4. Omitted
by ibid., for Cl. (e).
5. Subs. by ibid., for certain words.
3. [References to enactments
not inforce in Part B States.]-Repeated by the Administration of Evacuee
Property (Amendment) Act, 1953 (11 of 1953), Sec. 3.
4. Act to override other laws. -
1[(l)] The
provisions of this Act and of the rules and orders made thereunder shall have
effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in
force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law.
2[(2)
For the removal of doubts, it is hereby
declared that nothing in any other law controlling the rents of, or evictions
from, any property shall apply, or be deemed ever to have applied, to evacuee
property.)
1. Renumbered
by Act 42 of 1954, Sec. 2, as sub-section (1)
2. Ins. by.
(w.e.f. 22nd October. 1956).
CHAPTER II
Evacuee Property and Vesting thereof in the Custodian
5. Appointment of Custodian-General, Deputy
Custodian-General, etc.-The Central
Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint a Custodian-General
and as many Deputy and Assistant Custodians-General as may be necessary, for
the purpose of discharging the duties imposed upon the Custodian-General and
the Deputy and Assistant Custodians-General by or under this Act.
6. Appointment of Custodians, etc.-
[(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, appoint for any State a Custodian and as many Additional, Deputy or
Assistant Custodians of Evacuee Property as may be necessary for the purpose of
discharging the duties imposed on the Custodian by or under this Act, and the
same person may be appointed as the Custodian, or as the
case may be, Additional, Deputy or Assistant Custodian of Evacuee Property for
two or more States.)
(2) Subject
to the provisions of this Act, all Custodians, Additional. Deputy or Assistant Custodians of Evacuee
Property shall discharge the duties imposed on them by or under this Act under
the general superintendence and control of the Custodian-General.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-
Election (2), Additional, Deputy and Assistant Custodians shall discharge the
duties imposed on them by or under this Act under the general superintendence
and control of the Custodian for the State, but the 1[Central Government] may, by general or
special order, provide for the distribution of work among them:
2[Provided that
nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to empower the Custodian to
question any order made by an Additional, Deputy or Assistant Custodian in
respect of any matter which the Additional, Deputy or Assistant Custodian is
empowered by or under this Act to determine.]
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 2, for “State Government” (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
2. Ins.
by Sec. 2, ibid.
7. Notification of evacuee property. -Where the Custodian is of opinion
that any property is evacuee property within the meaning of this Act, he may,
after causing notice there to be given in such manner as may be prescribed to
the persons interested, and after holding such inquiry into the matter as the
circumstances of the case permit, pass an order declaring any such property to
be evacuee property.
1[(l-A)
Where during the pendency of any proceeding under sub-section (1) for declaring
any property to be evacuee property any person interested in the property dies,
the proceedings shall, unless the Custodian otherwise directs, be continued and
disposed of as if such person were alive.]
(2) Where a notice has been issued under
sub-section (1) in respect of any property, such property shall, pending the
determination of the question whether it is evacuee property or other-wise, be
incapable of being transferred or charged in any way, except with the leave of
the Custodian, and no person shall be capable of taking any benefit from such
transfer or charge except with such leave.
(3) The Custodian shall, from time to time,
notify, either by publication in the official Gazette or in such other manner
as may be prescribed, all properties declared by him to be evacuee properties
under sub-section (1).
1. Ins.
by Act 42 of 1954, Sec. 3 (with retrospective effect).
1[7-A.
Property not to be declared evacuee property on or after 7th May,
1954. -Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act,
no property shall be declared to be evacuee property on or after the 7th day of
May, 1954:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to-
(a) Any
property in respect of which proceedings are pending on the 7th day of May,
1954, for declaring such property to be evacuee property, and
(b) The
property of any person who, on account of the setting up of the Dominions of
India and Pakistan or on account of civil disturbances or the fear of such
disturbances had left on or after the 1st day of March, 1947, any place now
foming part of India, and who on the 7th day of May, 1954, was resident in
Pakistan:
Provided further that no notice under Sec. 7 for declaring any property
to be evacuee property with reference to Cl. (b) of the preceding proviso shall
be issued after the expiry of six months from the commencement of the
Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1954 (42 of 1954).
Explanation I-A person shall be deemed to
have been resident in Pakistan on the 7th day of May, 1954, within the meaning
of Cl. (b) of the first proviso, if he was ordinarily residing in Pakistan
before that date, notwithstanding that he was temporarily absent from Pakistan
on that date.
Explanation II. -A person who had left India
for Pakistan before the 7th day of May, 1954, on the authority of a passport or
any other valid travel document issued by any competent authority in India, and
who was temporarily residing in Pakistan on that date, shall not be deemed to
have been resident in Pakistan on that date within the meaning of Cl. (b) of
the first proviso.
Explanation III. -A person who had left
Pakistan for India on or after the 18th day of July, 1948, and who was in India
on the 7th day of May, 1954, shall, unless he came to India under a valid permit
for permanent return or for permanent resettlement, issued under the Influx
from Pakistan (Control) Act, 1949 (23 of 1949), be deemed to have been resident
in Pakistan on the 7th day of May, 1954, within the meaning of Cl. (b) of the
first proviso.]
1. Ins. by Act 42 of 1954, Sec. 4 (w.e.f. 7th
May, 1954).
8. Vesting
of evacuee property in the Custodian. -
(1) Any property declared to be evacuee property under Sec. 7 shall be deemed to have vested
in the Custodian for the State, -
(a) In the case
of the property of an evacuee as defined in sub-clause (i) of Cl. (d) of Sec.
2, from the date on which he leaves or left any place in a State for any place
outside the territories now forming part of India;
(b) In the
case of the property of an evacuee as defined in sub-clause (ii) of Cl. (d) of
Sec. 2, from the 15th day of August, 1947 and
(c) In the
case of any other property; from the date of the notice given under sub-section
(1) of Sec. 7 in respect thereof (2) Where immediately before the commencement
of this Act any property in a State had vested as evacuee property in any
person exercising the power of Custodian under any law repealed hereby, the
property shall, on the commencement of this Act, be deemed to be evacuee
property declared as such within the meaning of this Act and shall be deemed to
have vested in the Custodian appointed or deemed to have been appointed for the
State under this Act, and shall continue to so vest:
Provided that where at the commencement of this Act there is pending
before the High Court, the Custodian or any other authority for or in any State
any proceeding under Sec. 8 or Sec. 30 of the Administration of Evacuee
Property Ordinance, 1949 (12 of 1949), or under any other corresponding law
repealed by the Administration of Evacuee Property Ordinance, 1949 (27 of
1949), then notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law
for the time being in force, such proceeding shall be disposed of as if the
definitions of “evacuee property” and “evacuee” contained in Sec. 2 of this Act
had become applicable thereto,
1[(2-A)
Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section
(2), all property which under any law repealed hereby purports to have vested as
evacuee property in any person exercising the powers of Custodian in any State
shall, notwithstanding any defect in, or the invalidity of, such law or any
judgment, decree of any Court, be deemed for all purposes to have validly
vested in that person, as if the provisions of such law had been enacted by
Parliament and such property shall, on the commencement of this Act, be deemed
to have been evacuee property declared as such within the meaning of this Act
and accordingly, any order made or other action taken by the Custodian or any
other authority in relation to such property shall be deemed to have validly
and lawfully made or taken.]
(3) Where
any property in a State belonging to a joint stock company had vested in any
person exercising the powers of a Custodian under any law previously in force,
then nothing contained in Cl. (f) of Sec. 2 shall affect the operation of
sub-section (2), but the 2[Central
Government] may, by notification in the official Gazette, direct that the
Custodian shall be divested of any such property in such manner and after such
period as may be specified in the notification.
(4) Where
after any evacuee property has vested in the Custodian any person is in
possession thereof, he shall be deemed to be holding on behalf of the Custodian
and shall on demand surrender possession of it to the Custodian or to any other
person duly authorized by him in this behalf.
1. Ins. by Act 1 of 1960, Sec. 2 (with
retrospective effect).
2. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956. Sec. 3, for “State
Government” (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
9. Power of Custodian to take possession of
evacuee property vested in him. -If any person
in possession of any evacuee property refuses or fails on demand to surrender
possession thereof to the Custodian or to any person duly authorized by him in
this behalf, the Custodian may use or cause to be used such force as may be
necessary for taking possession of such property and may, for this purpose,
after giving reasonable warning and facility to any woman not appearing in
public to withdraw, remove or break open any lock, bolt or any door or do any
other act necessary for the said purpose.
10. Powers and duties of the Custodian generally. -
(1) Subject to the provisions of any rules that may
be made in this behalf, the Custodian may take such measures as he considers
necessary or expedient for the purposes of securing, administering preserving
and managing any evacuee property and generally for the purpose of enabling him
satisfactorily to discharge any of the duties imposed on him by or under this
Act and may, for any such purpose as aforesaid, do all acts and incur all
expenses necessary or incidental thereto.
(2) Without
prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the
Custodian may, for any of the purposes aforesaid-
(a) Carry
on the business of the evacuee;
(b) Appoint
a manager for the property of the evacuee or for carrying on any business or
undertaking of the evacuee and authorize the manager to exercise any of the
powers of the Custodian under this section:
(c) Enter,
or authorize any other person to enter, any land or premises to inspect any
evacuee property;
(d) Take
all such measures as may be necessary to keep any evacuee property in good
repair;
(e) Complete
any building which has vested in him and which requires to be completed
1[* * * * *]
(i) Take
such action as may be necessary for the recovery of any debt due to the
evacuee;
(j) Institute,
defend or continue any legal proceeding in any civil or revenue Court on behalf
of the evacuee or refer any dispute between the evacuee and any other person to
arbitration or compromise any claims, debts or liabilities on behalf of the
evacuee
2[* * * * *]
(l) In
any case where the evacuee property which has vested in the Custodian consists
of a share or shares in a company, exercise, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in the Indian Companies Act, 191.3 (7 of 1913), 3 or in the
articles of association of the company, the same rights in the matter of making
a requisition for the convening of a meeting or of presenting a petition to the
Court under the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 1913,3 or the articles of association of the company
or in any other matter as the evacuee shareholder himself could have done had
he been present, although the name of the Custodian does not appear in the
register of members of the company;
4[(II)
In any case where the evacuee property
which has vested in the Custodian consists of 51 per cent. or more of the
shares in a company, the Custodian may take charge of the management of the
whole affairs of the company and exercise, in addition to any of the powers
vested in him under this Act, all or any of the powers of the directors of the
company, notwithstanding that the registered office of such company is situate
in any part of the territories to which the Act extends, and notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Act or the Indian Companies Act,
1913 (7 of 1913),3 or in the articles of association of the company :
Provided that the Custodian shall not take charge of such
man-agement of the company except with the previous approval of the Central
Government,
(m) Incur
any expenditure, including the payment of taxes, duties, cesses and rates to
Government or to any local authority 5[*
* * *],
(n) Pay to the evacuee, or to any member of his
family or to any other person as in the opinion of the Custodian is entitled
thereto, any sums of money out of the funds in his possession;
(o) Transfer
in any manner whatsover any evacuee property notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in any law or agreement relating thereto:
Provided that the Custodian shall not sell any immoveable property, any
business, or other under-taking of the evacuee, except with the previous
approval of the Custodian-General;
6[(p)
Acquire any non-evacuee interest in
evacuee property, whether by way of purchase or otherwise:
Provided that no such acquisition shall be made except with the previous
approval of the Custodian-General;]
(q) Delegate,
by general or special order, all or any of his functions under this Act to such
officers or persons as he thinks fit;
7[* * * * * *]
1. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 4, for Cls. (o). (g) and (h) (w.e.f. 22nd October,
1956).
2. Omitted
by ibid. Sec. 4, for Cl. (k), (w.e.f.
22nd October, 1956).
3. See
now the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
4. Ins.
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 4.
5. Omitted by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 4, for
certain words (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
6. Ins.
by Act 1 of 1960, Sec. 3. Original Cl. (p) was omitted by the Act 91 of 1956,
Sec. 4 (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
7. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 4 (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956), for the proviso to Cl.
(q).
1[10-A. Power
to recover rent or damages in respect of evacuee property vested in the Custodian. -
(1) Where any person is in arrears of rent in respect of any
evacuee property vested in the Custodian, the Custodian may, by order, require
that person to pay the same within such time and in such instalments as may be
specified in the order.
(2) Where any person is deemed
to be holding any evacuee property on behalf of the Custodian under sub-section
(4) of Sec. 8, the Custodian may, having regard to such principles of
assessment of rent as may be prescribed, by order, assess the rent payable in
respect of such property and that person shall be liable to pay the rent so
assessed.
(3) Where any person is, or has at any
time been, in unauthorised possession of any evacuee property vested in the
Custodian, the Custodian may, having regard to such principles of assessment of
damages as may be prescribed, assess the damages on account of the use and
occupation of such property and may, by order, require that person to pay the
damages within such time and in such instalments
as may be specified in the order.
(4) Where
any person being in possession of any evacuee property vested in the
custodian has caused damage to any such property, the Custodian may assess the
compensation payable on account of the damage so caused and may, by order,
require that person to pay the compensation within such time and in such
instalments as may be specified in the order.
(5) No order
shall be made under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (4),
until after the issue of a notice in writing to the person concerned calling
upon him to show cause within such time as may be specified in the notice why
such order should not be made and until his objections, if any, and any
evidence he may produce in support of the same have been considered by the
Custodian.]
1. Ins. by Act 1 of 1960, Sec. 4.
11. Special
provisions with respect to certain trust properties. -
1[(1) Where any evacuee property which has vested in
the Custodian is property in trust for a public purpose of a religious or
charitable nature, it shall be lawful for the Central Government,
notwithstanding anything contained in the instrument of trust or any law for
the time being in force, to appoint, by general or special order, new trustees
in place of the evacuee trustees and the property shall remain vested in the
Custodian only until such time as the new trustees are so appointed; and
pending the appointment of such new trustees the trust property and the income
thereof shall be applied by the Custodian for fulfilling, as far as possible,
the purpose of the trust].
(2) In
respect of any wakf-alal-aulad, -
(a) Where
the mutawali is an evacuee, the property forming the subject matter of the wakf
shall vest in the Custodian subject to the rights of the beneficiaries under
the wakf, if any, who are not evacuees;
(b) Where
not all the beneficiaries are evacuees, the rights and interests of such of the
beneficiaries as are evacuees shall alone vest in the Custodian.
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 5 (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956)., for sub-section (1).
12. Power to vary or cancel leases or
allotments of evacuee property. -
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other
law for the time being in force the Custodian may cancel any allotment or
terminate any lease or amend the terms of any lease or agreement under which
any evacuee property is held or occupied by a person, 1[whether such allotment, lease or agreement
was granted or entered into before or after the commencement of this Act]:
2[Provided that in the
case of any lease granted before the 14th day of August, 1947, the Custodian
shall not exercise any of the powers conferred upon him under this sub-section
unless he is satisfied that the lessee-
(a) Has
sublet, assigned or otherwise parted with the possession of the whole or any
part of the property leased to him; or
(b) Has used
or is using such property for a purpose other than that for which it was leased
to him; 3[or]
3[(c)
Has failed to pay rent in accordance
with the terms of the lease.]]
4[Explanation.
- In this sub-section “lease” includes a lease granted
by the Custodian and “agreement” includes an agreement entered into by the
Custodian.]
(2) Where
by reason of any action taken under sub-section (1), any person has ceased to
be entitled to possession of any evacuee property, he shall on demand by the Custodian surrender possession of such
property to the Custodian or to any person duly authorized by him in this
behalf
(3) If
any person fails to surrender possession of any property on demand under
sub-section (2), the Custodian may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in any other law for the time being in force, eject such person and
take possession of such property in the manner provided in Sec. 9.
1. Subs.
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 5, for certain original words.
2. Ins.
by ibid.
3. Ins.
by Act 42 of 1954. Sec. 5, for Cl. (c).
4. Ins.
by ibid. (With retrospective effect).
1[12-A. Special provisions with respect to transfer
of tenancy right of evacuees. -
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, where tenancy
rights have vested in the Custodian as evacuee property and the Custodian has
granted a lease in respect of such property, the Custodian may, in any case
where the lessor under whom the property was held immediately before it vested
in the Custodian is not an evacuee, declare, by general or special order, that
with effect from such date as may be specified in the order he shall stand
absolved of all responsibilities with respect to the property or the lease
granted by him.
(2) On the
making of any such declaration as is referred to in sub-section (1), -
(a) The
lease granted by the Custodian shall be deemed to have effect as if granted by
the lessor under whom the property was held immediately before the Custodian
assumed possession or control thereof and shall continue to have such effect
until it is determined by lapse of time or by operation of law:
(b) All
sums realized by the Custodian in respect of the said lease before the date of
the declaration referred to in sub-section (1) shall, subject to the deduction
of fees, if any, payable to the Custodian, become payable to the lessor against
whom the lease has now effect.
(3) Nothing
contained in this section shall-
(a) Be
deemed to empower the Custodian to grant, without the consent in writing of the
original lessor or his successor-in-interest-
(i) Where
the original lease is for a specified period, any lease for a period extending
beyond the date on which the original lease would have expired: or
(ii) Where
the original lease is from year to year or month to month or on any other
similar tenure, any lease on a tenure different from that of the original
lease:
(b) Render
the Custodian liable to any person for any sum in excess of the sum payable to
the lessor under Cl. (b) of sub- section (2); or
(c) Prejudice
any rights of the lessor or the lessee, to which he may be entitled under any
other law for the time being in force,
consistently with the terms and conditions, if any, of the lease granted by the
Custodian.]
1. Ins. by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 6.
13. Payments to Custodian to be valid
discharge. -
(1) Any amount due to any evacuee in respect of any
property, which has vested in the Custodian or in respect of any transaction
entered into by the evacuee, shall be paid to the Custodian by the person
liable to pay the same.
(2) Any
payment made otherwise than in accordance with sub-section (1) shall not
discharge the person paying it from his obligation to pay the amount due, and
shall not affect the right of the Custodian to enforce such obligation against
any such person.
14. Recouping of expenditure by Custodian. -Any
expenditure incurred by the Custodian in the exercise
of any power conferred by or under this Act shall, in relation to any evacuee
property in respect of which it has been incurred, be a charge on such property
and shall, subject to the provisions of Sec. 51, have priority over all other
charges on the property, and such expenditure may be met or recouped by the
Custodian out of the income accruing from such property or the sale-proceeds
thereof.
15. Maintenance of accounts by Custodian. -
(1) The Custodian shall maintain a separate account of
the property of each evacuee possession whereof has been taken by him, and
shall cause to be made therein entries of all receipts and expenditure in
respect thereof.
(2) The
accounts shall be maintained in such form and in such manner as may be
prescribed.
(3) The 1[Central Government] shall cause the
accounts maintained under this section to be inspected and audited at such
intervals and by such persons as may be prescribed.
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 3, for “State Government” (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
16. Restoration of evacuee property. -
1[(1) Subject to such rules as may be made in this
behalf, any evacuee or any person claiming to be an heir of an evacuee may
apply to the Central Government or to any person authorized by the Central
Government in this behalf (hereinafter in this section referred to as the
authorized person) that any evacuee property which has vested in the Custodian
and to which the applicant would have been entitled if this Act were not in
force, may be restored to him.]
2[(l
-A) No application made under sub-section (1) shall be entertained unless-
(a) Before
making the application the applicant has filed all appeals and revision
applications permissible under this Act against the order declaring the
property of the evacuee to be evacuee property and the Custodian-General has
made a final order in the case; and
(b) The
application is made within sixty days of the final order of the Custodian-General:
Provided that any such application by an evacuee who migrated to West
Pakistan from the State of Uttar Pradesh during the period between the 1st day
of February, 1950 and the 31st day of May, 1950, and who is
permitted to return to India for permanent resettlement may be entertained if
it is made within sixty days of the return of the evacuee to India:
Provided further that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply
to an application under sub-section (1) which is pending on the commencement of
the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1954 (42 of 1954).
Explanation-In this sub-section, the
expression “Custodian General” shall include a Deputy Custodian-General and an
Assistant Custodian-General.]
3[(2)
On receipt of an application under
sub-section (1), the Central Government or the authorized person, as the case
may be, shall cause public notice thereof to be given in the prescribed manner,
and after causing an inquiry into the claim to be held in such manner as may be
prescribed, shall-
(a) If
satisfied-
(i) That
the conditions prescribed by rules made in this behalf have been satisfied;
(ii) That
the evacuee property is the property of the applicant; and
(iii) That
if is just or proper that the evacuee property should be restored to him;
Make an order restoring the property to the applicant, or (b) if not so
satisfied, reject the application:
Provided that where the application is rejected on the ground that the
evacuee property is not the property of the applicant, the rejection of the
application shall not prejudice the right of the applicant to establish his
title to the property in a Civil Court, or
(c) If
there is any doubt with respect to the title of the applicant to the property,
refer him to a Civil Court, or the determination of his title:
Provided that no order for the restoration of any evacuee property shall
be made under this sub-section unless provision has been made in the prescribed
manner for the recovery of any amount due to the Custodian in respect of the
property or the management thereof.]
(3) Upon
the restoration of the property to the evacuee or to the heir, as the case may
be, the Custodian shall stand absolved of all responsibilities in respect of
the property so restored, but such restoration shall not prejudice the rights,
if any, in respect of the property which any other person may be entitled to
enforce against the person to whom the property has been so restored:
Provided that every lease granted in respect of the property by or on
behalf of the Custodian shall have effect against the person to whom
restoration is made until such lease is determined by lapse of time or by
operation of law.
Explanation. - For the purposes of the
proviso to this sub-section, an allotment shall be deemed to be a lease and
shall have effect against the person to whom restoration is made to the same
extent and in the same manner as if it were a lease.]
(4) The Custodian shall, on demand, furnish
to the evacuee or to the heir, as the case may be, a statement containing an
abstract of the account of the income received and expenditure incurred in
respect of the property.
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 6, for sub- section (1) (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
2. Ins.
by Act 42 of 1954, Sec. 6.
3. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956. Sec. 6., for
sub-sections (2) and (2-A) (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
CHAPTER III
Certain Consequences of Property Vesting in Custodian
1[17. Exemption
of evacuee property from processes of Court, etc.-
(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this
Act, no evacuee property which has vested or is deemed to have vested in the
Custodian under the provisions of this Act shall, so long as it remains so vested,
be liable to be proceeded against in any manner whatsoever in execution of any
decree or order of any Court or other authority, and any attachment or
injunction or order for the appointment of a receiver in respect of any such
property subsisting on the commencement of the Administration of Evacuee
property (Amendment) Act, 1951 (22 of 1951), shall cease to have effect on such
commencement and shall be deemed to be void.
(2) Where,
after the 1st day of March, 1947, any evacuee property which has vested in the
Custodian or is deemed to have vested in the Custodian under the provisions of
this Act has been sold in execution of any decree or order of any Court or
other authority, the sale shall be set aside if an application in that behalf
has been made by the Custodian to such Court or authority on or before the 17th
day of October, 1950.]
1. Subs.
by Act 22 of 1951. Sec. 3 (with retrospective effect).
1[18. Occupancy
or tenancy rights not to be extinguished. –
(1) Where the rights of an evacuee in any land or in any house or
other building consist or consisted of occupancy or tenancy rights, nothing
contained in any law for the time being in
force or in any contract or in any instrument having the force of law or in any
decree or order of any Court, shall extinguish or be deemed to have
extinguished any such rights either on the tenant becoming an evacuee within
the meaning of this Act or at any time thereafter so as to prevent such rights
from vesting in the Custodian under the provisions of this Act or to prevent
the Custodian from exercising all or any of the powers conferred on him by this
Act in respect of any such rights, and, notwithstanding anything contained in
any such law, contract, instrument, decree or order, neither the evacuee nor
the Custodian, whether as an occupancy tenant or as a tenant for a certain
time, monthly or otherwise, of any
land, or house or other buildings, shall be liable to be ejected or be deemed
to have become so liable on any ground whatsoever for any default of-
(a) The
evacuee committed after he became an evacuee or within a period of one year
immediately preceding the date of his becoming an evacuee; or
(b) The
Custodian.
(2) Where any person acquires or has acquired
any rights under a provincial Act or a State Act in respect of any property by
reason of being in possession of that property, whether in pursuance of a
grant, lease, or allotment made by the Custodian or otherwise, the acquisition
of such rights shall not in any way affect or be deemed to have affected the
rights and powers conferred on the Custodian under this Act in respect of that
property.]
CHAPTER IV. -[Property of intending
evacuees.] Repealed by the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act,
1953 (11 of 1953), Sec. 9.2
1. Subs.
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 8 [with retrospective effect).
2. Effect
of repeal of Chapter IV. - (1) The repeal of Chapter IV shall not affect-
(a) Any
property, which has vested in the Custodian under Sec. 22 before the
commencement of Act 11 of 1953;
(b) Any
proceeding pending under that section on such commencement, and any such
property shall continue to vest so and any such proceeding may be continued as
if Act 11 of 1953 had not been passed.
(2) Save
as aforesaid, on the repeal of Chapter IV every order passed under Sec. 19
declaring any person to be an interiding evacuee and every attach me. -It of
property effected under that section shall cease to have effect and every
proceeding pending under that section shall abate.
(3) Save
to the extent to which it is other-wise, provided in this note, the mention of
particular matters in this note shall be without prejudice to the general
application of Sec. 6 of the (3eneral Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), with
respect to the effect of repeals (see Sec. 17 of Act 11 of 1953).
CHAPTER V
Appeals, Review and Revision
24. Appeals
from orders under Secs. 7, 40 and 48. –
1[(1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under
Sec. 7, Sec. 40 or Sec. 48 may prefer an appeal-
(a) To the
Custodian, where the original order has been passed by a Deputy or Assistant
Custodian and the amount or the value of the property which is the
subject-matter of the order does not exceed two thousand rupees;
(b) To the
Custodian-General, in any other case.
(1-A) An appeal
shall lie to the Customer-General from any order made on appeal by the
Custodian under Cl. (a) of sub-section (1) on the ground that the order is
contrary to law.
(I-B) An
appeal under this section shall be made in such manner and within such time as
may be prescribed.]
(2) The Custodian to whom an appeal is
preferred under Cl. (a) of sub-section (1) may dispose of it himself or may
make it over for disposal to an Additional Custodian or to a Deputy Custodian
authorized by the Custodian in writing in this behalf (in this Chapter referred
to as the authorized Deputy Custodian):
Provided that no appeal from an order of a Deputy Custodian shall be
made over for disposal to the authorized Deputy Custodian.
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956. Sec. 7, for
sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
25. [Appeals from other orders.] Repealed by the
Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1956 (91 of 1956), Sec. 8.
26. [Powers of review or revision of Custodian,
etc.] Repealed by Sec. 8, ibid.
27. Powers of revision of Custodian-General. -
(1) The Custodian General may at any time, either
on his own motion or on application made to him in this behalf” call for the
record of any proceeding in which any 1[*
* * *] Custodian has passed an order for the purpose of satisfying himself as
to the legality, propriety of any such order and may pass such order in
relation thereto as he thinks fit:
Provided that the Custodian-General shall not pass an order under this
sub-section prejudicial to any person without giving him a reasonable
opportunity of being heard
2[Explanation.
-The power conferred on the Custodian-General under
this section may be exercised by him in relation to any property,
notwithstanding that such property has been acquired under Sec. 12 of the
Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954 (44 of 1954).]
3[* * * * *]
1. Omitted
by Act 91 ol'1956, Sec. 9, for the words “District Judge or” (w.e.f. 22nd
October. 1956).
2. Ins.
by Act I of 1960, Sec. 5.
3. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956. Sec. 9., for sub-
sections (I -A). (2) and (3)
28. Finality of orders under this chapter. -Save as otherwise expressly
provided in this Chapter, every order made by the Custodian-General, 1[* * * *] Custodian, Additional Custodian,
authorized Deputy Custodian. Deputy
Custodian or Assistant Custodian shall be final and shall not be called in
question in any Court by way of appeal or revision or in any original suit,
application or execution proceeding.
1. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 10, for the words “District Judge.”
CHAPTER VI
Penalties and Procedure
29. [Penalty for failure to surrender possession of
evacuee property] Repealed by the Administration of Evacuee Property
(Amendment) Act, 1956 (91 of 1956), Sec 8.
30. [Penalty for wrongfully paying or receiving
rents, etc.]-Repealed by the Administration of evacuee Property (Amendment)
Act, 1956 (91 of 1956), Sec. 8.
31. [Penalty for concealing evacuee
property.]-Repealed by the administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act
1956 (91 of 1956), Sec. 8.
32. Penalty for causing damage to evacuee
property. -Any person who wilfully destroys or causes damage to any evacuee property or
unlawfully converts it to his own use shall be punishable with imprisonment for
a term, which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
33. [Penalty for false declaration in certain
cases.]-Repeated by the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1956 (91 of 1956), Sec. 8.
34. Penalty for offences not expressly provided
for. -Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule or
order made thereunder, or obstructs the lawful exercise of any power conferred
by or under this Act, or makes default in complying with any requirement of
this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder, shall, if no express
provision is made by this Act for punishment of such contravention,
obstruction, or default, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
35. [Penalty for offences committed by Companies.]-
Repeated by the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1956 (91 of
1956), Sec. 8.
36. Penalty for abetment. -Any person who abets any of the offences punishable under this Act shall
be punishable with the punishment provided for the offence.
37. Offences to be cognizable. -Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1898 (5 of 1898) 1, all
offences under this Act shall be cognizable.
1. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973.
38. Procedure for prosecution. -No prosecution for any offence punishable under
this Act shall be instituted except with the previous sanction of the 1[Central Government) or of any officer
authorized in this behalf, by general or special order, by the 1[Central Government].
1. Subs. by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 3, for
State Government” (w.e.f 22nd October, 1956).
39. Offences may be tried summarily. -Any Magistrate empowered to try in a summary
way the offences specified in sub-section (1) of Sec. 260 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), l
may, if an application is made in this behalf by the complainant and the
Magistrate thinks, fit, try any offence under this Act in accordance with the
provisions contained in Sees. 262 to 265 of that Code, but nothing contained in
sub-section (2) of Sec. 262 of that Code shall apply to any such trial.
1. See
now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
CHAPTER VII
Miscellaneous
1[40. Validity of transfer
respecting property subsequently declared to be evacuee property. -
(1) No transfer made after the 14th day of August,
1947 2[but before the 7th day
of May, 1954], by or on behalf of any person in any mariner
whatsoever of any property belonging to him shall be effective so as to confer
any rights or remedies in respect of tire transfer on the parties thereto or
any person claiming under them or either of them, if, at any time after the
transfer, the transferor becomes an evacuee within the meaning of Sec. 2 or the
property of the transferor is declared or notified to be evacuee property
within the meaning of this Act, unless the transfer is confirmed by the
Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall
apply to the transfer for valuable consideration of any such property as is
referred to therein in any of the following cases, namely:
(a) Where
the transfer has been made with the previous approval of the Custodian before
the commencement of the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act,
1953 (11 of 1953);
(b) Where
the transferor has not left 3[*
* *] India for Pakistan within a period of two years from the date of the
transfer:
Provided that in the case of a transfer made before the commencement of
the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1953 (11 of 1953), the
transferor had not left India for Pakistan before such commencement,
notwithstanding that a period of two years had already elapsed before such
commencement;
(c) Where
the transfer is made after the commencement of the Administration of Evacuee
Property (Amendment) Act, 1953 (11 of 1953) and, -
(i) The
value of the property or properties transferred in any one year is less than
five thousand rupees, or
(ii) The
transfer is made with the previous approval of the Custodian or in the
prescribed cases with the previous approval of the Custodian-General.
(3) An application under sub-section (1) for
the confirmation of any transfer may be made by the transferor or the
transferee or any person claiming under, or lawfully authorized by, either of
them to the Custodian within two months from the date of the transfer or within
two months from the date of the declaration or notification referred to in
sub-section (1) whichever is later, and the provisions of Sec. 5 of the Indian
Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) 4
shall apply to any such application.
(4) Where
an application under sub-section (1) has been made to the Custodian for
confirmation, he shall hold an inquiry in respect thereof in the prescribed
manner and may reject the
application if he is of opinion that-
(a) The
transaction has not been entered into in good faith or for valuable
consideration; or
(b) The
transaction is prohibited under any law for time being in force; or
(c) The
transaction ought not to be confirmed for any other reason.
(5) Where, in respect of any transfer made
before the commencement of the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment)
Act, 1953 (11 of 1953), any application for confirmation thereof has been
rejected solely on the ground-
(a) That
although the transaction was entered into in good faith, the consideration paid
was not adequate, or-
(b) That
the application was bared by limitation, then, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in any law or contract, or decree or order of a Civil Court
or other authority, but subject to any rules that may be made by the Central
Government in this behalf, the Custodian may and shall, where the application
for confirmation was rejected by the Custodian-General, if the
Custodian-General so directs exercise any of the following powers in respect of
the transfer, namely:
(i) Confirm
the transfer if the consideration paid for the transfer is adequate;
(ii) Confirm
the transfer, if the transferee agrees to pay to the Custodian the difference
in value between the value of the property as assessed by the Custodian and the amount actually paid by the
transferee to the transferor;
(iii) If the
transferee agrees, take possession of such part of the property as, after
dividing it by metes and bounds, is equivalent in value to the difference
between the value of the property as assessed by the Custodian and the amount
actually paid by the transferee to the transferor;
(iv) If the
transferee agrees, take possession of the entire property by paying off to the
transferee the amount which the Custodian finds as having been actually paid by
the transferee to the transferor as consideration for the transfer; or
(v) If the
transferee does not agree to any of the courses referred to in Cls. (ii) to
(iv) inclusive, auction the property and if the sale proceeds exceeds the
amount actually paid by the transferee, pay to the transferee the amount paid
by him and take over the balance and if the sale proceeds are equivalent to, or
fall short of, the amount actually paid by the transferee, pay the entire sale
proceeds to the transferee:
Provided that where any application for confirmation of a transfer is
rejected on the ground specified in Cl. (b) of this sub-section the powers
conferred on the Custodian by this section shall not be exercised unless the
Custodian finds that the transaction has been entered into in good faith.
(6) If the
application is not rejected under sub-section (4), the Custodian may confirm
the transfer either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as he may
think fit to impose.
(7) The
Custodian may, in respect of any application for confirmation of a transfer
pending before him on the commencement of the Administration of Evacuee
Property (Amendment) Act, 1953 (11 of 1953), which is liable to be rejected on
either of the grounds specified in Cls. (a) and (b) of sub-section (5),
exercise any of the powers conferred on him under that sub-section.
5[* * * * *]
1. Subs. by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 13.
2. Ins.
by Act 42 of 1954, Sec. 8 (w.e.f. 7th May. 1954).
3. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 11, for the words “or does not leave” (w.e.f. 22nd
October, 1956).
4. See
now the Limitation Act, 1963.
5. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 11, for sub-section (8) (w.e.f. 22nd October 1956).
41. Transactions relating to
evacuee property void in certain circumstances.
-Subject to the other
provisions contained in this Act, every transaction entered into by any person
in respect of property declared or deemed to be declared to be evacuee property
within the meaning of this Act, shall be void unless entered into by or with
the previous approval of the Custodian.
42. [Submission of information to Custodian in
respect of evacuee property.] Repeated by the Administration of Evacuee
Property (Amendment) Act, 1956 (91 of
1956), Sec. 8.
43. Vesting of property in Custodian not
affected by death of evacuee, etc.- Where in pursuance of the provisions of this Act any property has vested
in the Custodian, neither the death of the evacuee at any time thereafter nor
the fact that the evacuee who had a right or interest in that property had
ceased to be an evacuee at any material time shall affect the vesting or render
invalid anything done in consequence thereof.
44. Certain officers to be public servants. -The Custodian-General, the Custodian and every
other person duly appointed to discharge any duties imposed on them by this Act
or the rules or orders made thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants
within the meaning of Sec. 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
45. Powers of the Custodian while holding
inquiry. -For the purposes of holding any inquiry under this
Act, the Custodian shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit, in
respect of the following matters, namely:
(a) Enforcing
the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) Compelling
the discovery and production of documents;
(c) Any
prescribed matter;
And the inquiry by the Custodian shall be deemed to be a judicial
proceeding within the meaning of Sees. 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45
of 1860), and the Custodian shall be deemed to be a court within the meaning of
Sees. 480 and 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898). 1
1. See
now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
46. Jurisdiction of Civil Courts barred in
certain matters. -Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, no Civil or Revenue Court
shall have jurisdiction-
(a) To
entertain or adjudicate upon any question whether any property or any right to
or interest in any property is or is not evacuee property or
1[* * * *]
(c) To
question the legality of any action taken by the Custodian-General or the
Custodian under this Act; or
(d) In
respect of any, matter which the Custodian-General or the Custodian is
empowered by or under this Act to determine.
1. Omitted by Act
11 of 1953, Sec. 14, for Cl. (b).
47. Protection of action taken in good faith. -
(1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding
shall lie against the Custodian-General or the Custodian or any person acting
under the direction of the Custodian in respect of anything which is in good
faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rules or
orders made thereunder.
(2) No suit
or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government, the State
Government, the Custodian-General or the Custodian or any other person in
respect of any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything in good faith
done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rules or orders
made thereunder.
1[48. Recovery
of certain sums as arrears of land revenue. –
(1) Any sum payable to the Government or the Custodian in respect
of any evacuee property, under any agreement, express
or implied, lease or other document or otherwise howsoever, may be recovered in
the same manner as an arrear of land revenue. ,
(2) If any question arises whether a sum is
payable to the Government or to the Custodian within the meaning of sub-section
(1), the Custodian shall, after making such inquiry as he may deem fit, and
giving to the person by whom the sum is alleged to be payable an opportunity of
being heard, decide the question; and the decision of the Custodian shall,
subject to any appeal or revision under this Act, be final and shall not be
called in question by any Court or other authority.
(3) For the
purposes of this section, a sum shall be deemed to be payable to the Custodian,
notwithstanding that its recovery is barred by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908
(9 of 1908), 2 or any other
law for the time being in force relating to limitaion of actions.]
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956. Sec. 12., for the
original section (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
2. See
now the Limitation Act, 1963.
49. Record to be public documents. -All records prepared or registers maintained under this
Act shall be deemed to be public documents within the meaning of the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), and shall be presumed to be genuine until the
contrary is proved.
50. Notice of suits to the Custodian. -
(1) If in any suit it appears to the Civil or Revenue
Court that a question relating to the property of an evacuee or an intending
evacuee is involved, the Court shall not proceed to determine that question
until after notice has been given to the Custodian.
(2) A Court may, at any stage of a suit or
proceeding, either on its own motion or on application made in this behalf by
the Custodian, make an order that the Custodian shall be added as a party to
the suit or proceeding, if the Court is satisfied that such addition is
necessary or proper for the satisfactory determination of the suit or
proceeding.
51. Fees payable to the Custodian. -
(1) The 1[Central
Government] may fix the fees payable to the Custodian for the management or
disposal of any property vested in him.
(2) Such fees shall be payable out of the
income or sale-proceeds of such property and shall be a first charge on the
property.
1. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 3, for “State Government” (w.e.f. 22nd October. 1956).
1[52. Power
to exempt. -The Central Government may, by notification in the
official Gazette, declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act or of
the rules made thereunder shall not apply, or shall be deemed never to have
applied, or shall cease to apply, or shall apply only with such modifications
or subject to such conditions, restrictions or limitations as may be specified
in the notification, to or in relation to any class of persons or class of
property.]
1. Subs.
by Act 1 of 1953. Sec. 15, for the
original section.
53. Power to give directions. -The Central Government
may give directions to any State Government as to the carrying into execution
in the State of any of the provisions contained in this Act or of any rules or
orders made thereunder.
54. Power of the Central Government to take
action with regard to evacuee property. -The Central
Government may, for the purpose of regulating the administration of any
property which has vested in the Custodian under the provision of this Act,
pass such order or direct such action to be taken in relation thereto as, in
its opinion, the circumstances of the case require and as is not inconsistent
with any of the provisions contained in this Act.
(1) The Central Government may direct that any power exercisable by
it under this Act shall be exercisable also by such officer or authority
subordinate to the Central Government or by the
State Government or by such officer or authority subordinate to the State
Government as may be specified in the direction.
1[(2)
Any power exercisable by a State
Government by virtue of a direction under sub-section (1) may, unless otherwise
provided in such direction, be exercised also by such officer or authority as
the State Government may specify in this behalf.]
(3) Subject
to the provisions of this Act and of the rules and orders made thereunder, the
Custodian-General may delegate all or any of his powers under this Act to any
Deputy or Assistant Custodian-General.
(4) Subject
to the provisions of this Act and of the rules and orders made thereunder, the
Custodian may delegate all or any of his powers under this Act to any
Additional, Deputy or Assistant Custodian, subject to such conditions, if any,
as may be specified by the Custodian.
1. Ins.
by Act 1 of 1960. Sec. 7., the original
sub-section (2) was omitted by the Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 8 (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in
the official Gazette, make rules 1
to carry out the purposes of this Act,
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of
the following matters, namely:
(a) The
terms and conditions of service of the Custodian-General;
(b) The
manner in which inquiries under this Act may be held:
2[(bb)
The transfer by the Custodian of any case pending before any officer
subordinate to him or the withdrawal to himself for disposal of any case so
pending or the exercise of any similar powers by the Custodian-General in
respect of cases pending before any officer subordinate to him;]
(c) The
manner in which evacuee properties which have vested in the Custodian may be
notified:
(d) The
manner in which possession of any evacuee property may be taken by
the Custodian;
(e) The
manner in which any person claiming any right to, or interest in, any property
which has been notified as evacuee property may have his claim registered and
disposed of;
(f) The
manner in which any attachment may be made by
the Custodian;
(g) The
manner in which trust properties, which have vested the Custodian, may be
administered or otherwise dealt with,
(h) The
circumstances in which, and the conditions subject to which the Custodian may
sell any immoveable property vested in him, and the procedure governing the
grant of leases and the period for which leases may be granted;
(i) The
circumstance in which leases and allotments may be cancelled or terminated or
the terms of any lease or agreement varied;
(j) The
securities in which the Custodian may invest any moneys held by him;
3[(jj)
The manner in which rent of any
property or damage for unauthorised possession of any property may be assessed,
and the principles which may be taken into account in assessing such rent or
damages.]
(k) The
manner in which any moneys due to the Custodian may be recovered;
(l) The
form and manner in which books of
accounts and other records shall be maintained by the Custodian;
(n) The form
in which any notice under this Act may be issued, the manner of its service and
publication and the form in which any demand may be made by the Custodian;
4[* * * *]
(o) The
nature of case and the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to
which certificates for restoration of property under Sec. 16 maybe issued;
(p) The
powers vested in a Civil Court, which may be exercised by the Custodian while
holding any inquiry under this Act;
5[(q)
The manner in which applications for
the previous approval of the Custodian may be made under Sec. 40 and the
matters which he shall take into account in granting such approval, and the
nature of cases and the circumstances in which the Custodian may confirm or
refuse to confirm a transfer under that section;]
(r) The
form and manner in which and the time within which appeals and applications for
revision may be preferred under Chapter V and the fees payable in respect
thereof;
6[(s)
The terms and conditions of service of
the Custodian and other officers appointed under this Act and for the
furnishing of security by them];
(t) The
work to be performed by the Custodian, and the Additional, Deputy or Assistant
Custodian,
(u) The
delegation of powers of the Custodian to the Additional, Deputy or Assistant
Custodian;
(v) The
fees payable to the Custodian for the management and disposal of any property
vested in him and the manner in which such fees shall be paid,
(w) The
persons by whom and the time at which books of accounts maintained under this Act
may be inspected and audited;
(x) Any
other matter which has to be or may be prescribed under this Act.
7[* * * *]
8[(4)
Every rule made under this section
shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of
Parliament while it is in session for a period of thirty days which may be
comprised in one session or in two successive sessions and if, before the
expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately
following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule, or both
Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have
effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to
the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]
1.
For the Administration of
Evacuee Property (Central) Rules, 1950, see Gazette of India, Pt. II, Sec. 3,
p. 832.
2. Ins.
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 16.
3. Ins. by Act 1 of 1960, Sec. 8.
4. Omitted
by Act 91 of 1956, Sec. 13, for cl. (o) (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
5. Subs.
by Act 11 of 1953, Sec. 16.
6. Subs.
by Act 91 of 1956. sec. 13, for Cl. (s)
(w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
7. Omitted
by Sec. 3, ibid. for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 22nd October, 1956).
8. Subs. by Act 1 of 1960, Sec. 8.
57. Temporary
amendment of Sec. 54 of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922. -During the continuance of this Act, sub-section (3) of Sec. 54 of
the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922) 1,
shall have effect as if after Cl. (o) thereof, the following clause had been
inserted, namely:
“(p) Of any such particulars to the Custodian of
evacuee property appointed under the Administration of Evacuee Property Act,
1950, for the purpose of enabling him to discharge the duties imposed upon him
by or under the said Act.”
1. Since
repealed by the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).
(1) The Administration of Evacuee Property
Ordinance, 1949 (27 of 1949) and the Hyderabad Administration of Evacuee
Property Regulation (12 of 1359 F) are hereby repealed.
(2) If, immediately before the commencement
of this Act, there is in force in any State to which this Act extends any law
which corresponds to this Act and which is not repealed by sub-section (1),
that corresponding law shall stand repealed.
(3) The
repeal by this Act of the Administration of Evacuee Property Ordinance, 1949
(27 of 1949), or the Hyderabad Administration of Evacuee Property Regulation
(12 of 1359 F), or of any corresponding law shall not affect the previous
operation of that Ordinance (12 of 1359 F), Regulation or corresponding law and
subject thereto, anything done or any action taken in the exercise of any power
conferred by or under that Ordinance, Regulation or corresponding law, shall be
deemed to have been done or taken in the exercise of the powers conferred by or
under this Act as if this Act were in force on the day on which such thing was
done or action was taken.]
1. Subs.
by the Administration of Evacuee Property (Amendment) Act, 1950 (66 of 1950).
Sec 2 (w.e.f. 7th December, 1950).