Obstructions in Fairways Act, 1881

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: 181561b0cff79122d553d236426036141244fe0cc831ef9fd462adac3744dcb6.

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THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN FAIRWAYS ACT, 1881 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
Preamble  
1.  Short title 
2.  Federal Government empowered to remove or destroy obstruction in fairway 
3.  Federal Government entitled to expenses incurred in removing obstruction. Dispute 
concerning such expenses 
4.  Notice of removal to be given by Federal Government 
5.  Things removed may, in certain cases, be sold 
6.  Proceeds how applied 
7.  “Vessel” to include tackle, cargo, etc. 
8.  Power to make rules to regulate and prohibit the placing of obstructions in fairways 
9. Penalty for breach of such rules 
10.  Compensation payable in certain cases for damage caused under this Act 
11.  Certain action of the Government previous to passing of this Act be deemed to have been 
taken hereunder 
12.  Saving of other powers possessed by Federal Government 
13.  Application to fairways in inland waterways 
 
 
  
 
 

 
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THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN FAIRWAYS ACT, 1881 
1ACT NO. XVI OF 1881 
[15th March, 1881]  
An Act to empower the Government to remove or destroy obstructions in f airways, and to prevent 
the creation of such obstructions. 
Preamble. WHEREAS it is expedient to empower the Government to remove or destroy 
obstructions to navigation in fairways leading to ports in 2[Pakistan], and to prevent the creation of 
such obstructions; It is hereby enacted as follows:___  
1. Short title. This Act may be called the Obstructions in Fairways Act 1881;  
3*  *  *  *  *  *  *  
But nothing herein contained shall apply to vessels 4[belonging to, or hired by a contract made 
on behalf of, the 5[Government]].  
2. Federal Government empowered to remove or destr oy obstruction in fairway. 
Whenever, in any fairway leading to any port in 2[Pakistan], any vessel is sunk, stranded or abandoned, 
or any fishing-stake, timber of other thing is placed or left, 6[the 7[Federal Government]] may, if in its 
opinion such thing is, or is likely to become, an obstruction or danger to navigation,-  
(a)  cause such thing or any part thereof to be removed; or  
(b)  if such thing is of such a description or so situate that, 9[in the opinion of the 
7[Federal Government]], it is not worth removing, cause the same or any part 
thereof to be destroyed.  
3. Federal Government entitled to expenses incurred in removing obstruction. Whenever 
anything is removed under section 2, 10[the 7[Federal Government]] shall be entitled to receive a 
reasonable sum, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, for the expenses incurred in 
respect of such removal.  
Dispute concerning such expenses. Any dispute arising concerning the amount due under this 
section, in respect of anything so removed, shall be decided by the District Magistrate 8* * * having 
jurisdiction at the place where such thing is, upon application to him for that purpose by either of the 
disputing parties; and such decision shall be final.  
1For the Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1881, Pt. V., p.3 ; for Proceedings in Council, see ibid.,1881, Supplement, pp. 19 and 
405.  
The Act has been extended to the whole of Pakistan by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 an d 2nd Sch. (with effect 
from the 14th October, 1955). .  
2Subs. by Ord. 21 of 1960, s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from tbe 14th October, 1955), for” the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had 
been subs. by A. O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
3The words “and it shall come into force at once” rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (10 of 1914).  
4Subs. by A. O., 1937, for “belonging to Her Majesty or hired by Her Majesty or by the Secretary of State for India in Council” .  
5Subs. by A.O., 1961, Art. 2, for” Crown” (with effect from the 23rd March, 1956).  
6Subs. by A. O.,1937, for “the L. G., of the part of British India in which such port is situate”.  
7Subs. by F. A. O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.  
8The words “or Presidency Magistrate” omitted by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960) s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from 
the 14th October, 1955).  
9Subs. by A. O., 1937, for “in he opinion of the L. G”. 
10Subs. ibid., for “the Govt.”. 
 
 
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4. Notice of removal to be given by Federal Government. The 1[Federal Government] shall, 
whenever anything is removed under section 2, publish in the 2[official Gazette] a notification 
containing a description of such thing, and the time  at which and the place from which the same was 
so removed.  
5. Things removed may, in certain cases, be sold. If, after publishing such notification, such 
thing is unclaimed, or if the person claiming the same fails to pay the amount due for the said expenses 
and any customs -duties or other charges properly incurred by the 1[Federal Government] in respect 
thereof,  
the 1[Federal Government] may sell such thing by public auction, if it is of a perishable nature, 
forthwith, and, if it is not of a perishable nature, at any time not less than six months after publishing 
such notification as aforesaid.  
6. Proceeds how applied. On realizing the proceeds of such sale, the amount due for expenses 
and charges as aforesaid, together with the expenses of the sale, sh all be deducted therefrom, and the 
surplus (if any) shall be paid to the owner of the thing sold, or, if no such person appear and claim such 
surplus, shall be held in deposit for payment, without interest, to any person thereafter establishing his 
right to the same:  
Provided that he makes the claim within one year from the date of the sale.  
7. “Vessel” to include tackle, cargo, etc. For the purposes of this Act, the term “vessel” shall 
be deemed to include also every article or thing or collection of thi ngs being or forming part of the 
tackle, equipment, cargo, stores or ballast of a vessel; and any proceeds arising from the sale of a 
vessel, and of the cargo thereof, or of any other property recovered therefrom, shall be regarded as a 
common fund.  
8. Power to make rules to regulate and prohibit the placing of obstructions in fairways. 
The 3[Federal Government] may, from time to time, by notification in the 4[official Gazette], make 
rules to regulate or prohibit, in any fairway leading to a port in 5[Pakistan], the placing of fishing -
stakes, the casting or throwing of ballast, rubbish or any other thing likely to give rise to a bank or 
shoal, or the doing of any other act which will in 6[its] opinion, cause, or be likely to cause, obstruction 
or danger to navigation.  
9. Penalty for breach of such rules. Whoever is guilty of any act or omission in contravention 
of the rules made under section 8 may be tried for  such offence in any district 7* * * in which he is 
found, and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with 
fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.  
 
 
 
1Subs. by F. A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which was subs. by A. O., 1937 for “L.G.”.  
2Subs. by A. O., 1937, for “Local official Gazette”.  
3Subs. by F. A. O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central. Government” which was subs. by A.O. 1937, for “G.G. in C”.  
4Subs. by A.O., 1937 for “Gazette of India”.  
5Subs. by Ord. 21 of 1960, s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from tbe 14th October, 1955), for “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had 
been subs. by A. O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
6Subs. by A. O.,1937, for “his”.  
7The words “or Presidency-town” omitted by A. O., 1949. Sch.  
 
 
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10. Compensation payable in certain cases for damage caused under this Act. Whenever 
the maintenance or creation of an obstruction in any fairway has become lawful by long usage or 
otherwise, and such obstruction is removed or destroyed under section 2, or its creation is regulated or 
prohibited under section 8, any person having a right to maintain or create such obstruction shall be 
entitled to receive from the 1[Federal Government] reasonable compensation for any damage caused 
to him by such removal, destruction, regulation or prohibition.  
Every dispute arising concerning the right to such compensation, or the amount thereof, shall 
be determined according to the law for the time being in force relating to like disputes in the case of 
land needed for public purposes2 and not otherwise ; and for the purposes of such law the fairway from 
or in which such obstruction was removed or destroyed, or in which its creation was regulated or 
prohibited, shall be deemed to be a part of the 3* * * district in which the  port to which such fairway 
leads is situated.  
11. Certain action of the Government previous to passing of this Act be deemed to have 
been taken hereunder. Whenever any obstruction in a fairway leading to a port in 4[Pakistan] has 
been removed or destroye d, or whenever the creation of any such obstruction has been regulated or 
prohibited, by an order of the 1[Federal Government] or a 5[Provincial Government], previous to the 
passing of this Act, such removal, destruction, regulation or prohibition shall be deemed to have been 
effected under this Act.  
12. Saving of other powers possessed by Federal Government . Nothing herein contained 
shall be deemed to prevent the exercise by 6[the 1[Federal Government]] of any other powers possessed 
by it in this behalf.  
7[13. Application to fairways in inland waterways. All references in this Act to the 1[Federal 
Government] shall, in relation to fairways in inland waterways, be construed as references to the 
Provincial Government concerned.]  
 
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Date: 16-09-2024 
1Subs. by F. A. O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which was subs. by A. O., 1937, for “Secretary of State for India in Council”.  
2See, the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894).  
3The words “Presidency-town or” omitted by A. O., 1949, Sch.  
4Subs. by Ord. 21 of 1960, s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from tbe 14th October, 1955), for “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had 
been subs. by A. O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
5Subs. by A. O.,1937, for “L.G.”.  
6Subs. by A. O.,1937, for “the Govt.”.  
7S. 13 ins. by A. O., 1937.