17. Act to override contract and other laws.―Save as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions
of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, custom
or usage or agreement or decree or order of a court.
18. Mode of recovery of any amount due under the Act.―Any sum payable to the Government
under the provisions of this Act may be recovered in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue.
19. Appeal.―Any person aggrieved by an order made by the competent authority under section 10,
may, within a period of thirty days from the date of the order, prefer an appeal to the Deputy
Commissioner:
Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period, if
he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.
20. Revision.―(1) The Chief Commissioner may, on an application for revision made to him or
otherwise, call for the record of any proceeding pending before, or disposed of by, the competent
authority or the Deputy Commissioner or any officer authorised by the Chief Commissioner under
sub-section (2) of section 9.
(2) No order varying the decision of the competent authority or the Deputy Commissioner or revising
the list published under section 9 which prejudicially affects any person shall be made without giving him
an opportunity of being heard.
21. Power of officers while holding inquiries, etc. under the Act.―Any officer or authority while
holding an inquiry or hearing an appeal or exercising powers of revision under this Act shall have the
1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 10, for “to such persons” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975).
11
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) requiring the discovery and production of documents and material objects;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavit; and
(d) such other matters as may be prescribed.
22. Entry upon land for purposes of survey, etc.―Subject to any conditions and restrictions that
may be prescribed, any officer entrusted with the performance of any duty under this Act may, in the
discharge of such duty, enter upon and survey and take measurement of any land and do all other acts
necessary for carrying out his duties under this Act.
23. Offences and penalties.―(1) Whoever being bound to submit a return under section 4 fails
without reasonable cause to do so, within the prescribed time, or submits a return which he knows or has
reason to believe to be false, 1
[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six
months and with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees].
(2) Whoever contravenes any lawful order made under this Act or otherwise obstructs any person
from lawfully taking possession of any land shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees.
24. Finality of orders and bar of jurisdiction.―(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every
order made under this Act shall be final.
(2) No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in so far as it relates to
any matter which the competent authority or the Deputy Commissioner is empowered by or under this
Act to decide.
25. Protection of action taken under the Act.―No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against
the Government or any authority or officer in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended
to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder.
26. [Power to exempt, etc.] Omitted by the Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Amendment Act,
(15 of 1976), s. 12 (w.e.f. 8-12-1975).
27. Power to make rules.―(1) The Chief Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
make rules for carrying 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 form in which and the period within which a return under section 4 may be submitted;
(b) the agency through which information under section 5 may be collected;
(c) the manner of holding inquiries under this Act;
(d) the matters which may be determined by the compelent authority under sub-section (1) of
section 6 and the manner of determination of excess land under the Act;
1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1976, s. 11, for “shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees” (w.e.f. 8-12-1975).
12
(e) the form in which a list under sub-section (3) of section 6 or sub-section (3) of section 9 may
be prepared and the manner of publication of such list;
(f) the period within which an application for restoration of excess land of an Asami may be made
by the Bhumidhar;
(g) the manner of apportionment of 1
[amount] between the Bhumidhar and the Asami in respect
of any excess land in the possession of the Asami;
(h) the manner of determination of the net annual income of any excess land for the purposes of
payment of 1
[amount];
(i) the manner of assessment of market value of structures and buildings and the value of trees for
the purpose of payment of 1
[amount];
(j) the number of instalments in which 1
[any amount] under this Act may be paid or recovered;
and the period within which bonds may be redeemed;
(k) the manner of demarcation of excess land;
(l) the purposes for which land may be reserved under section 15;
(m) the categories of persons to whom excess land may be allotted and the terms and conditions
on which such allotment may be made;
(n) the powers of a civil court which may be vested in any officer or authority holding an inquiry;
(o) the conditions and restrictions subject to which an officer may enter upon any land for the
purpose of survey and taking measurement;
(p) the levy of fees in respect of any matter under this Act;
(q) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed.
(3) 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 total period of thirty days 2
[which may be comprised in
one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid], 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.
28. [Amendment of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act,
1964 (52 of 1964), s. 2 and the First Schedule (w.e.f. 29-12-1964).