PUNJAB GOVERNMENT LANDS (RESUMPTION OF GRANTS AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1950

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THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT LANDS (RESUMPTION OF 
GRANTS AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1950 
(XVI of 1950) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.  
2.  Definitions.  
3. Resumption of grants and extinguishment of rights in land.  
4. Collector to resume possession and grant of compensation, etc.  
5. Possession to be taken pending payment of compensation, etc.  
6. Bar of Courts jurisdiction.  
7. Rules. 
 
 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB 
2
[GOVERNMENT] LANDS (RESUMPTION OF GRANTS AND 
EXTINGUISHMENT OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1950 
(XVI of 1950) 
[10 June 1950] 
An 
Act 
to provide for resumption of certain grants of 
3
[Government] land. 
Preamble.– WHEREAS certain grants of 
4
[Government] land were made under 
section 10 of the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912, during the 
years 1945 to 1947 in material d isregard of public interest and Government policy 
and of procedure governing the making of such grants; 
 AND WHEREAS  the Governor of the Punjab has, in pursuance of a 
proclamation issued
5
 by the Governor-General of Pakistan under section 92 -A of the 
Government of India Act, 1935, assumed on behalf of the Governor -General all 
powers vested in or exercisable by the Provincial Legislature under the said Act; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers so assumed the Governor is 
hereby pleased to enact as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act shall be called the 
Punjab 
6
[Government] Lands (Resumption of Grants and Extinguishment of Rights) 
Act, 1950. 
 (2)  It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab. 
 (3)  It shall come into force at once. 
2.  Definitions.– In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context the word– 
(i) “Collector” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 3 of the 
Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912
7
; 
(ii) “Grantee” means a p erson to whom a grant of land is made on any 
terms by the Government under the Colonization of Government Lands 
                                                           
1This Act was assented to by  the Governor of the Punjab on June  9, 1950, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated June 10, 1950, pp. 115-116. 
2Substituted for the word “Crown” by the West Pakistan Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1964 (w.e.f. 8.6.1962), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 3, 1964, pp. 1805-1849, s. 2 read with Schedule. 
3Ibid. 
4Ibid. 
5It was issued on January 24, 1949 and stood revoked on April 5, 1951. 
6Substituted for the word “Crown” by the West Pakistan Laws (Adaptation) Ord er, 1964 (w.e.f. 8.6.1962), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 3, 1964, pp. 1805-1849, s. 2 read with Schedule. 
7V of 1912. 
(Punjab) Act, 1912
1
, and includes the successor in interest of such 
grantee; and 
(iii) “Government” means the Provincial Government 
2
[*]. 
3. Resumption of grants and extinguishment of rights in land .– 
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) 
Act, 1912
3
, or any other law for the time being in force, the Government if satisfied, 
after such enquiry as it may consider necessary, that any grant of 
4
[Government] land, 
on any conditions, made during the years 1945 to 1947 was made in disregard of 
public interest or Government’s policy or of the procedure required to be followed in 
such cases, whether the grantee has taken possession of the land or not and 
irrespective of the acquisition of proprietary rights in the land by the grantee, may 
order resumption of the grant and extinguishment of all rights of the grantee in the land 
covered by the grant from such date as it may specify generally or in particular cases. 
4. Collector to resume possession and grant of compensation, etc .– (1) 
Where an order resuming any grant or extinguishing rights in land covered by such 
grant has been made under the last section, the Col lector may forthwith re -enter 
upon the said land and resume possession thereof. 
 (2) The grantee or any one claiming through or under him shall not be 
entitled to any compensation except for any buildings erected or trees planted by him 
on the land which i n the opinion of the Government were necessary for the 
enjoyment of the grant. 
 (3) If prior to the making of an order under section 3 proprietary rights have 
been acquired by the grantee in the whole or part of any land covered by the grant, 
the money paid by him towards such acquisition shall be refunded. 
5. Possession to be taken pending payment of compensation, etc .– (1) 
Where a grantee is entitled to any compensation under sub -section (2) or to any 
refund under sub -section (3) of section 4, the Collect or may take possession of the 
land pending payment thereof. 
 (2) The amount of the compensation shall be assessed by such officer and 
on such basis and be paid in such manner as may be prescribed by rules made by 
the Government in this behalf. 
6. Bar of Co urts jurisdiction .– No court shall have jurisdiction in any matter 
which the Government or a Collector or any other officer appointed by the 
Government is empowered by this Act to dispose of, or shall take cognizance of the 
manner in, or the reasons for, w hich the Government or a Collector or other officer 
appointed by Government, exercises any power vested in it or in him by or under this 
Act. 
                                                           
1V of 1912. 
2Omitted the words “of the Punjab” by the West Pakistan (Adaptation and Repeal of Law s) Act, 1957 (XVI of 1957) (w.e.f. 
14.10.1955), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary),  dated July 2, 1957, p p. 709-789, s. 3 read with  
Schedule III. 
3V of 1912. 
4Substituted for the word “Crown” by the West Pakistan Laws (Adaptation) Ord er, 1964 (w.e.f. 8.6.1962), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 3, 1964, pp. 1805-1849, s. 2 read with Schedule. 
7. Rules.– The Government may frame rules for carrying out the purposes of 
this Act.