13. Assets and liabilities to vest in Authority.—(1) On the date of notification issued under
clause (d) of section 2, all such assets, rights, powers, authorities and privileges and such property
movable and immovable, real or personal, corporeal or incorporeal, present or contingent, of whatever
nature, including lands, buildings, machinery, equipments, works, workshops, cash balances, capital,
reserves, reserve funds, investments, tenancies, losses and book debts and all other rights and interests
arising out of such property, as immediately before the issue of that notification, were in the ownership or
possession of the Government of India in any of the land port, as the Central Government may, in such
notification, specify, shall vest in the Authority and such vesting shall also be deemed to include all
borrowings, liabilities and obligations of whatever kind then subsisting.
(2) The notification under sub-section (1) shall be issued only after the concurrence of the concerned
ministries or departments of the Government of India, in case where such properties are owned or
controlled by such ministries or departments.
14. General effect of vesting of undertakings in Authority.—All contracts, agreements and
working arrangements subsisting immediately before the date of notification issued under clause (d) of
section 2, and affecting the land ports shall be of full force and effect as regards the Authority.
15. Guarantee to be operative.—Any guarantee given for or in favour of land customs stations or
immigration check posts with respect to a loan, lease or finance shall continue to be operative in relation
to such stations or check posts which have been vested in the Authority by virtue of this Act.
16. Compulsory acquisition of land for Authority.—Any land required by the Authority for the
discharge of its functions under this Act shall be deemed to be needed for a public purpose and such land
may be acquired for the Authority under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956)
or any other law for the time being in force.
17. Contracts by Authority.—Subject to the provisions of section 18, the Authority shall be
competent to enter into and perform any contract necessary for the discharge of its functions under this
Act.
18. Mode of executing contracts on behalf of Authority.—(1) Every contract on behalf of the
Authority, shall be made by the Chairperson or such officer of the Authority as may be generally or
specially empowered in this behalf by the Authority and such contracts as may be specified, in the
regulations, shall be sealed with the common seal of the Authority:
Provided that no contract exceeding such value or amount as the Central Government may, by order
fix in this behalf, shall be made unless it has been previously approved by the Central Government:
Provided further that no contract for the acquisition or sale of immovable property or for the lease of
any such property for a term exceeding thirty years and no other contract exceeding such value or amount
as the Central Government may, by order fix in this behalf, shall be made unless it has been previously
approved by the Central Government.
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(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the form and manner in which any contract shall be
made under this Act shall be such as may be provided by regulations.
(3) Any contract which is not in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and
regulations made thereunder shall not be binding on the Authority.