Federal Government Lands and Buildings (Recovery of Possession) Ordinance, 1965

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: 63aa6f6b9aaa8fd9f8e587df0beb842bc48e6b0ffd4a37a1e97ce5f0581f0803.

Page 1 of 5 
 
 
 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LANDS AND BUILDINGS 
(RECOVERY OF POSSESSION) ORDINANCE, 1965 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Eviction of outgoing lessees on licensees from land or building 
4.  Revocation of license and recovery of possession of building in certain cases 
5.  Eviction of unauthorized occupants 
6.  Mode of recovery of possession 
7.  Recovery of cost of demolition and removal of structures 
8.  Recovery of arrears of rent 
9.  Power to delegate 
10.  Jurisdiction of Civil Court barred 
11.  Indemnity 
12.  Requisition of police assistance 
13.  Power to make rules 
 

 
Page 2 of 5 
 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LANDS AND BUILDINGS 
(RECOVERY OF POSSESSION) ORDINANCE, 1965 
 
1ORDINANCE NO. OF 1965 
[10th December, 1965] 
An Ordinance to provide for the speedy recovery of possession of Central Government lands and 
buildings. 
   WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the speedy recovery of possession of Central 
Government lands and buildings from outgoing lessees and licensees and unauthorized  occupants, 
and for matters ancillary thereto; 
 AND WHEREAS the National Assembly is not in session and the President is satisfied that 
circumstances exist which render immediate legislation necessary; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred b y clause (1) of Article 29 of the 
Constitution and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the President is pleased to make and 
promulgate the following Ordinance:___ 
            1. Short title, extent and commencement.___ 2[(1) This Ordinance may be called the Federal 
Government Lands and Buildings (Recovery of Possession) Ordinance, 1965].  
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
 2. Definitions . In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the  subject or 
context,___  
(a)  “building” means a building, or part thereof, which vests in, or is in the 
possession or under the management and control of, the 1[Federal 
Government], and includes the land appurtenant thereto; 
(b)  “land” means land which v ests in, or is in the possession or under the 
management and control of, the 1[Federal Government], and is used or held for 
purposes other than agriculture; 
(c)  “lease” and “lessee” have the same meaning as in the Transfer of Property 
Act, 1882 (IV of 1882), and for the purpose of section 3, “lessee” includes his 
heirs, assigns, legal representatives and all persons inducted by him into the 
demised land or building; 
 
1Approved by the National Assembly of Pakistan on 9th March, 1966, see Gaz. of P., 1966, Ext., pp. 105-108. 
This Ordinance and the rules, notifications and Orders made thereunder as in force in N.W.F.P. before the 15th July, 1975, ha ve been applied to all the 
Provincially Administered Tribal Areas of the N.W.F.P., by Regulation No. III of 1975, s. 2 and the Sch. 
2Subs by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Sch., II, for sub-section (1). 
 
Page 3 of 5 
 
(d)  “license” and “licensee” have the same meaning as in the Easements Act, 
1882 (V of 1882), and, for the purpo se of section 4, “licensee” includes all 
persons inducted by him into the building to which the license relates; 
(e)  “unauthorized occupant” means a person who is in occupation of any land or 
building without the express permission or authority of the 1[Federal 
Government], and includes___ 
(i)  a person inducted into any land or building by the lessee or licensee 
thereof; and 
(ii)  every member of the lessee’s or licensee’s family who remains in 
occupation of any land or building after the determination of  the lease 
or license in respect of the same. 
 3. Eviction of outgoing lessees on licensees from land or building. If, on the expiry, 
whether before or after the commencement of this Ordinance, of the period of any lease or license in 
respect of any land or building of which the 1[Federal Government] is the lessor or licensor or on the 
determination of such lease or license on the ground of breach of any covenant imposing an 
obligation on the lessee or licensee to give up possession of the demised land or building required for 
any public purpose, the lessee or licensee refused or failed, or refuses or fails, to vacate that land or 
building and put the 1[Federal Government] into possession of the same, any officer authorized by 
the 1[Federal Government] in th is behalf may, notwithstanding anything, contained in any other law 
for the time being in force or in any contract, at any time, enter upon the demised land or building 
and recover, vacant possession of that land or building by evicting the lessee or licen see and may 
also demolish and remove the structures, if any, erected or built thereon by the lessee or licensee: 
 2[Provided that such officer shall not enter upon the demised land or building unless the 
Federal Government has given an opportunity of being heard to the lessee or licensee]  
 Provided 2[further] that such officer shall, before demolishing and removing any structures 
under this section, issue a notice to the lessee or licensee calling upon him to remove such structures 
within the period specified in the notice. 
 4. Revocation of license and recovery of possession of building in certain cases. ___(1) 
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force of in any contract, 
where the licensee of a building is a person in the service of Pakistan, the license in respect of such 
building shall, in addition to the grounds mentioned in section 62 of the Easements Act, 1882, stand 
revoked on the discharge, removal dismissal, resignation, retirement or death of such servant or on  
his transfer from the station in which he is employed to any other station, after the expiration of the 
period for which he or his dependents may retain possession of the building under the rules for the 
time being applicable to the license. 
 (2) On the r evocation of a license in respect of a building the licensee shall, notwithstanding 
anything contained elsewhere in  the  aforesaid Act or in any other  law for the time being in  force or 
 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”. 
2Ins. by the Federal Government Lands and Buildings (Recovery of Possession) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1984 (10 of 1984), ss 2 and 3. 
 
Page 4 of 5 
 
in any contract, forthwith put the 1[Federal Government] into possession of such building, or part, 
failing which any officer authorized by the 1[Federal Government] in this behalf may enter anti 
recover possession of the same by evicting the licensee: 
 Provided that the licensee shall be given 2[an opportunity of being heard and a] notice of not 
less than fourteen days for vacating such building. 
 5. Eviction of unauthorized occupants. ___ (1) If the 1[Federal Government] is satisfied after 
making such enquiry as it thinks fit that a person is an unauthorized occupant of any land or building, 
it may, 2[after giving such person an opportunity of being heard,] by order in writing, direct such 
person to vacate the land or building within the period specified in the order.  
 (2) If any person refuses or fails to vacate any land or building as directed by an order under 
sub-section (1),  any officer authorized in this behalf by the 1[Federal Government] may, 
notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, enter upon such land 
or building and recover possession of the same by evicting such person and may al so demolish and 
remove the structures, if any, erected or built by that person. 
 6. Mode of recovery of possession . For the purpose of recovering possession of  any land or 
building under the provisions of section 3 or section 4 or section 5, an officer aut horized by the 
1[Federal Government] in this behalf may use or cause to be used such force as may be necessary. 
 7. Recovery of cost of demolition and removal of structures .___ (1) The cost of demolition 
and removal of structures under section 3 or section 5, hereafter in this section referred to as the cost, 
shall be payable to the 1[Federal Government] by the lessee or licensee or the unauthorized occupant, 
as the case may be.  
 (2) If the cost is not paid on demand, the 1[Federal Government] may cause th e materials of 
the structures demolished and removed under section 3 or section 5 to be sold in auction in such 
manner as may be prescribed by rules. 
 (3) If the proceeds of the sale under sub -section (2) are not sufficient to cover the cost, the 
balance shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue and, if such proceeds exceed the cost, the 
excess shall be paid to the lessee, licensee or unauthorized occupant. 
 Explanation.___ In this section, lessee and licensee mean the person in whom the ownership of 
the structures vested at the time of their demolition and removal under section 3 or section 5. 
 8. Recovery of arrears of rent . If any rent payable in respect of any land or building has 
been in arrears on the day of recovery of possession of such land or  building, the amount due on 
account of such arrears, with interest, if any, accrued thereon shall be recoverable as arrears of land 
revenue. 
 9. Power to delegate . The 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, direct that any pow er exercisable by it under this Ordinance may be exercised also by any 
officer subordinate to it.  
 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table for “Central Government”. 
2Ins. by the Federal Government Lands and Buildings (Recovery of Possession) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1984 (10 of 1984), ss. 2 and 3. 
 
Page 5 of 5 
 
 10. Jurisdiction of Civil Court barred.  No Civil Court shall pass an order in any suit or 
proceeding granting a temporary or interim injunction restraining the 1[Federal Government] or any 
officer authorized by it from taking possession of any land or building under this Ordinance. 
 11. Indemnity.___(1) No suit or legal proceeding shall lie against the 1[Federal Government] 
in respect of anything which is, in good faith, done or intended to be done under this Ordinance.  
 (2) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person in respect of 
anything which is, in good faith, done or intended to be done under this Ordinance. 
 12. Requisition of police assistance . If any officer authorized to take  action under this 
Ordinance requires police assistance in the exercise of his powers thereunder, he may send 
requisition to the officer in charge of a police station who shall on such requisition render the 
assistance required. 
 13. Power to make rules. The 1[Federal Government] may make rules for carrying out the 
purposes of this Ordinance. 
 
_____________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table for “Central Government”.