Resource information
The present Act, which consists of nine Parts and two schedules, provides for the setting up of group settlement areas by the State Authority and lays down related conditions of alienation and occupation. As per section 4, the State Authority may declare any area of State land to be a group settlement for the purposes of this Act. Within such areas, rural and urban settlement areas shall be created. On the other hand, whenever a land in a group settlement area is needed for any public purpose, such land shall be reserved as per section 8. Part III of the Act gives particular regard to rural holdings. The latter may be alienated only to one individual person qualified in accordance with section 19 and no joint ownership of a rural holding shall at any time be permitted (section 14). Further restrictions are set forth under section 15: (1) no land falling within a rural holding may at any time be subdivided; (2) no land comprised in a rural holding may be held by way of undivided shares; (3) no rural holding may be leased or sublet neither in whole nor in part. Section 18 regulates rights of access to rural holdings. Part IV of the Act is devoted to the occupation of rural holdings. Part V deals with urban holdings. In case of unlawful occupation of land, the penalty established by section 30 shall be applied.
Amended by: Land (Group Settlement Areas) Amendment Act 2002, (A1176) (2002-12-20)