Land Acquisition Act, 1977.

The present Act aims at amending and consolidating current legislation relevant to the acquisition of land. The Government may acquire any land at any place for any public purpose, if it so deems necessary, according to the procedures set out by this Act. To this end it regulates the nomination of an officer responsible for preliminary action in charge of the determination of the land area to be acquired (through a survey, collection of samples of soil, demarcation of land, installation of equipment), the determination of the compensation and the submission of a report to the local officer regarding the findings of preliminary action. After having received the report, the local officer shall issue a notification containing all the particulars required (e.g. purpose of acquisition, location of the land, terms of acquisition, plot number or boundaries of the land, land area). Further provisions concern the publication of said notice, the criteria for the determination of the compensation which shall be paid either in cash or by allotment of other lands in exchange, if so required by the landowner. In case of acquisition of Guthi Lands, the compensation shall by paid according to the Guthi Corporation Act of 1976.This Act regulates also the acquisition of land: in special circumstances (e.g. protection of other public property, disaster, etc.); after consent of, or through negotiations with the landowner; for diplomatic missions and international agencies; etc. Sections 33 and 34 describe the cases in which the land acquired by the Government and found necessary for the purpose of acquisition shall be used for other purposes or returned to expropriated landowner.