PUNJAB SOIL RECLAMATION ACT, 1952

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THE PUNJAB SOIL RECLAMATION ACT, 1952 
(XXI of 1952) 
CONTENTS 
CHAPTER I 
Preliminary 
1. Title, Extent and Commencement. 
2. Definitions. 
CHAPTER II 
Constitution of the Board 
3. The Board a body corporate. 
4. Constitution of the Board and term of office of Members. 
5. Power of Government to alter membership of the Board. 
CHAPTER III 
Proceedings of the Board, its committees, officers and servants and supply of 
information to Government 
6. Meetings of the Board. 
7. Temporary association of members with the Board. 
8. Constitution and functions of Committee. 
9. Meetings of Committees. 
10. Appointment of officers, etc. 
11. Recruitment, conditions of service and disciplinary powers. 
12. Control by Chairman. 
13. Delegation of powers. 
14. Supply of information and documents to Government. 
15. Scrutiny of soil reclamation activities of other Departments. 
16. Use of mechanical plants of Departments. 
CHAPTER IV 
Schemes and procedure to be followed in framing them 
17. Scheme for reclamation. 
18. Publication of notice as to schemes and supply of documents to 
applicants. 
19. Notice of proposed acquisition of land. 
20. Consideration of objections and application for sanction of scheme. 
21. Government may sanction, reject or return scheme. 
22. Notification of sanction of scheme. 
23. Alteration of scheme after sanction. 
24. Merging of different schemes in one consolidated scheme. 
25. Passing over of works and services to owners. 
26. Control over underground water. 
CHAPTER V 
Powers and Duties of the Board 
27. Notification of local area. 
28. General Powers. 
29. Power of controlling, letting of land. 
30. Facility in the movement of population. 
31. Surveys or contribution towards their cost. 
32. Power of entry. 
CHAPTER VI 
Acquisition, abandonment of acquisition of land 
and levy of reclamation fee 
33. Modification of Act I of 1894. 
34. Acquisition of land in urgent cases. 
35. Tribunals. 
36. Appeals. 
37. Abandonment of acquisition. 
38. Reclamation fee. 
39. Fresh acquisition. 
CHAPTER VII 
Finance 
40. Board Fund. 
41. Board to levy taxes. 
42. Grants-in-aid. 
43. Borrowing of money. 
44. Custody and investment of Board Funds. 
45. Procedure on failure of the Board to repay loans. 
46. Recouping of payments made by Government. 
47. Payment by Government to be a charge on the property of the Board. 
CHAPTER VIII 
Rules and bye-laws 
48. Power of Government to make rules. 
49. Power of the Board to make bye-laws. 
50. Printing and sale of copies of rules and bye-laws. 
51. Power of Government to cancel bye-laws made under section 49. 
CHAPTER IX 
Procedure and penalties 
52. Signature on notice, summons, order, requisition, proclamation or bill. 
53. Method of giving public notice. 
54. Service of notice. 
55. Penalty for disobedience. 
56. Powers of the Board to execute works on failure to comply with notice, 
summons, order or requisition. 
57. Liability of occupier to pay on in default of owner. 
58. Right of occupier to execute works in default of owner. 
59. Opposition to execution by occupier. 
60. Recovery of cost of execution by the occupier from owner. 
61. Relief to agents and trustees. 
62. Penalty for removing machinery etc. 
63. Penalty for obstructing land reclamation operations or a contractor or 
removing mark. 
64. Power of Board in case of squatters and trespassers and persons in the 
unauthorised possession of land. 
65. Penalty for unauthorised cultivation, etc. 
66. 
CHAPTER X 
Supplemental provisions 
67. Members, etc., deemed public servants. 
68. Contribution by the Board towards leave, allowances and pensions of 
Government servants. 
69. Authority for prosecution. 
70. Recovery of dues. 
71. Powers of Chairman as to institution, etc., of legal proceedings and 
obtaining legal advice. 
72. Indemnity of acts under the Act. 
73. Notice of suit against the Board, etc. 
74. Mode of proof of the records. 
75. Restriction on the summoning of the servants of the Board to produce 
documents. 
76. Validation of acts and proceedings. 
77. General power of the Board to pay compensation. 
78. Compensation for damage to Board’s property. 
79. Ultimate dissolution of the Board and transfer of its assets and liabilities 
to an Administrator. 
SCHEDULE  
(Referred to in section 33) 
MODIFICATIONS IN THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT I OF 1894, HEREIN AFTER 
CALLED “THE SAID ACT” 
1. Amendment of section 3. 
2. Notification under section 4 and declaration under section 6 to be 
replaced by notification under sections 18 and 22 of this Act. 
3. Amendment of Section 11. 
4. Amendment of Section 15. 
5. New Addition of Section 16-A. 
6. Amendment of Section 17. 
7. Amendment of Section 18. 
8. Amendment of Section 19. 
9. Amendment of Section 20. 
10. Amendment of Section 23. 
11. Amendment of Section 24. 
12. New Section 24-A. 
13. Amendment of Section 25. 
14. Amendment of Section 31. 
15. New Section 48-A. 
16. Amendment of Section 49. 
17. Amendment of Section 50. 
18. Deletion of Section 54. 
 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB SOIL RECLAMATION ACT, 1952 
(XXI of 1952) 
[14 July 1952] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the speedy reclamation and improvement of the areas damaged by 
Thur and Sem 
2
[, for preventing further damage and for maximizing agricultural 
production]. 
Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for the speedy reclamation 
and improvement of the areas damaged by Thur and Sem  
3
[, for preventing further 
damage and for maximizing agricultural production]: 
 It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
CHAPTER I 
Preliminary 
1. Title, Extent and Commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the 
4
[*] 
5
[Punjab] Soil Reclamation Act, 1952. 
 (2) It extends to the whole of 
6
[
7
[the Punjab] except the Tribal Areas]. 
 (3) It shall come into force at once, but the provisions of Chapters IV to VI 
shall apply only to such areas and from such date as may be specifie d in the 
notification issued under section 27. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context– 
(i) “Board” means the 
8
[
9
[Punjab Land and Water Development Board ]] 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 10, 1952, assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on June 20, 1952, 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated July 14, 1952, pp. 299-350. 
2Substituted for the words “and for preventing further damage” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
2.  
3Ibid., s.3.  
4Omitted the word “Punjab” by the Ordinance ibid., s.4(a).  
5Added by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-PP, Article 2(1), read with Schedule, Part II. 
6Substituted for the words “the Punjab” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 
1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 4(b).  
7Substituted for the words “the Punjab” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-PP, Article 2(1), read with Schedule, Part II. 
8Substituted for the words “Punjab Soil Reclamation Board” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
5.  
9Substituted for the words “West Pakistan Land and Water Development Board” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 
(Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425 -A-1425-PP, Article 
2(1), read with Schedule, Part II. 
appointed under this Act; 
1
[(ii) “canal officer” m eans an officer defined as such in the Canal and 
Drainage Act, 1873 (VIII of 1873), or the Sind Irrigation Act, 1879 (Sind 
VII of 1879), as may be applicable to the area, and includes any officer 
appointed under this Act to exercise all or any of the power s of a canal 
officer;  
(iii) “canal”, “water-course” and “drainage work” have the same meanings 
as are assigned to them respectively in the Canal and Drainage Act, 
1873 (VIII of 1873), or the Sind Irrigation Act, 1879 (Sind Act VII of 
1879), as may be applicable to the area;] 
(iv) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the 
2
[
3
[Punjab Land and Water 
Development Board] appointed under section 4 of this Act; 
(v) “Collector” includes any officer appointed under this Act to exercise all 
or any of the powers of a Collector; 
(vi) “Commissioner” includes any officer appointed under this Act to 
exercise all or any of the powers of a Commissioner; 
(vii) “department” means a department of the 
4
[*] Government; 
(viii) “District” means a district as fixed for revenue purposes; 
(ix) “Government” means the 
5
[Provincial Government of the Punjab];  
(x) “holding” means a share or portion of an estate held by one land owner 
or by two or more land owners jointly; 
(xi) “improvement” means improving or preserving the productive capacity 
of a soil; 
(xii) “land” includes land as defined in clause (a) of section 3 of the Land 
Acquisition Act, 1894
6
; 
7
[(xiii) * * * * * * * * *   ] 
(xiv) “local area” means an area to which the provisions of Chapters IV to VI 
of this Act have been extended; 
(xv) “local authority” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Local 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 6(a).  
2Substituted for the words “Punjab Soil Reclamation Board” by the Ordinance ibid., s. 5.  
3Substituted for the words “West Pakistan Land and Water Development Board” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 
(Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974), published in the Punjab Gazette (Ex traordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425 -A-1425-PP, Article 
2(1), read with Schedule, Part II. 
4Omitted the word “Punjab” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 6(b).  
5Substituted for the words “Government of West Pakistan” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 19 74, pp. 1425 -A-1425-PP, Article 2(1), read with 
Schedule, Part II, whereas omitted the words “the Punjab” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
6(c).  
6I of 1894. 
7Omitted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of 
West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 6(d). 
Authorities Loans Act, 1914
1
; 
(xvi) “Member” means member of Soil Reclamation Board appointed under 
section 4 of this Act; 
2
[(xvi-A) “officer” means an officer of the Board other than th e Chairman or a 
member;] 
(xvii) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by Government under 
this Act; 
(xviii) “Reclamation fee” means a fee imposed for soil reclamation under this 
Act; 
3
[(xix) “rent” includes rent as defined in any law relating to tena ncy for the 
time being in force in the area;]  
(xx) “scheme” means a scheme framed under this Act; 
(xxi) “Secretary” means Secretary of the Board 
4
[** * *]; 
(xxii) “sem” means the rise of sub -soil water -table so high that the water 
actually oozes out of the land or the land remains constantly damp and 
where the context so permits “sem”, “sem land” or “sem affected land” 
means any land or area affected by “sem” and includes such land or 
areas as may by notification be declared as “sem” from time to time; 
5
[(xxiii) “soil reclamation” and “reclamation” mean rendering thur and sem 
lands free from excessive salts and water respectively so as to make 
them fit for normal cropping and include–  
(a) measures against deterioration of land;  
(b) total development of th e area with a view to maximizing 
agricultural production; and if any, question arises–  
(1) whether any matter comes within the purview of the terms 
‘soil reclamation’ and ‘reclamation’ or not, or  
(2) as to the extent of reclamation operations carried out , or 
required to be carried out in any area,  
the question shall be referred to the Board, whose 
decision shall be final and shall not be called in question 
by or before any Court.] 
(xxiv)“tenant” includes the predecessors and successors -in- interest of a 
tenant; 
(xxv) the expressions “tree”, “timber” and “cattle” have the meanings 
                                                           
1X of 1914. 
2Inserted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette 
of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 6(e). 
3Substituted by the Ordinance ibid., s.6(f).  
4Omitted the words “appointed under section 4 of this Act” by the Ordinance ibid., s. 6(g). 
5Substituted by the Ordinance ibid., s. 6(h). 
respectively assigned thereto in the Forest Act, 1927
1
; 
(xxvi) “thur” means salt efflorescence at the surface of the land rendering 
the surface white, ash coloured, black or brown, or not discoloured but 
presenting an oily appearance and where the context so permits 
“thur”, “thur land” or “thur affected land” means any land or area 
affected by thur and includes such land or area as may by notification 
be declared as “thur” from time to time; 
(xxvii) “Tribunal” means a tribunal constituted under this Act; and 
(xxviii) “tubewell” means well worked with electric or thermal power to draw 
out sub-soil water. 
CHAPTER II 
Constitution of the Board 
3. The Board a body corporate .– The duty a nd power of carrying out the 
provisions of this Act in any local area shall, subject to the conditions and limitations 
hereinafter contained, be vested in the Board which shall be a body corporate, and 
shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and  shall be competent to sue 
and be sued in its name. 
2
[4. Constitution of the Board and term of office of Members .– (1) The Board 
shall consist of– 
(a) Chairman appointed by Government, who shall not be below the status 
of Member Board of Revenue, West Pakistan
3
; 
(b) five Members, who shall be Secretaries to Government of 
4
[the Punjab] 
in the Departments of Finance, Irrigation, Agriculture, Co -operation, 
Basic Democracies, and Local Government; 
(c) Chairman, 
5
[the Punjab] Water and Power Development Authority; and 
(d) Chairman, 
6
[the Punjab] Agricultural Development Corporation. 
 (2) Every member shall be appointed by virtue of office and continue to be 
a member so long so he holds that office. 
5. Power of Government to alter membership of the Board .– Government 
shall have the power to alter the membership of the Board as and when considered 
necessary.] 
CHAPTER III 
Proceedings of the Board, its committees, officers and servants and supply of 
                                                           
1XVI of 1927. 
2Substituted for original sections 4 and 5 by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance , 1964 (V of 
1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 7.  
3Now “Punjab”.  
4Substituted for  the words  “West Pakistan” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. A.O. 1 of 1974)  (w.e.f. 
14.8.1973), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-PP, Article 2 (1) read 
with Schedule, Part II, Sr. No. 10.  
5Ibid. 
6Ibid. 
information to Government 
6. Meetings of the Board .– (a) The Board sh all ordinarily meet for the 
transaction of business at least once 
1
[in two months] at such time as the Chairman 
may fix, provided that the Chairman may, whenever he thinks fit, and shall, upon the 
written request of not less than two members, and within 10  days of the request, call 
a special meeting. 
(b) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at an ordinary or 
special meeting shall be three: provided that if at any such meeting a 
quorum is not present, the Chairman or if he be not present the 
Secretary subject to such directions as the Chairman may have given, 
shall adjourn the meeting to such other day as he may think fit and the 
business which would have been brought before the original meeting, if 
there had been a quorum present, shall be br ought before and 
transacted at the adjourned meeting whether there be a quorum 
present or not. 
(c) At every meeting the Chairman, if he be present, and in his absence 
such one of the members present as may be chosen by the meeting, 
shall preside. 
(d) All q uestions which come before any meeting shall be decided by a 
majority of the votes of the members present, the Chairman of the 
meeting in case of an equality of votes having a second or casting 
vote. 
(e)      (i) Minutes of the proceedings with the names o f the members 
present at each meeting shall be drawn up and recorded in a 
book to be kept for the purpose, and shall be signed by the 
person presiding at the meeting within one week of the meeting 
to which these relate, and shall at all reasonable times be  open 
to inspection by any member, and no member shall be entitled 
to object to the minutes of any meeting unless he was present at 
the meeting to which they relate. 
(ii) The minutes of a meeting shall be put up at the next meeting 
and shall be confirmed w ith such alterations as may be 
necessary to bring them in accord with the true facts of the 
proceedings of the meeting. 
7. Temporary association of members with the Board .– (1) The Board may 
associate with itself in such manner and for such period as may b e prescribed by 
bye-laws made under section 49, any officer of a Government department or other 
person whose assistance or advice it may desire in carrying out any of the provisions 
of the Act. 
 (2) An Officer or person associated with itself by the Board under sub 
section (1) for any particular purpose, shall have a right to take part in the 
discussions of the Board relative to that purpose, but shall not have a right to vote for 
its decision and shall not be deemed to be a member of the Board or be entitl ed 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “a month” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 8. 
even to take part in discussion regarding any purpose other than the purpose for 
which he was associated. 
8. Constitution and functions of Committee.– (1) The Board may from time to 
time appoint Committees consisting of such persons of any of the follow ing classes 
as it may deem fit, namely:– 
(i) members; 
(ii) persons associated with the Board under section 7; and 
(iii) other persons whose services, assistance or advice the Board may 
desire as members of such Committees; 
 provided that no such Committee shall consist of less than three persons and 
that at least one of them shall be a member of the Board and the Secretary 
shall be ex-officio Secretary of every such Committee. 
 (2) The Board may:– 
(a) refer to a Committee for inquiry and report any matter r elating to any of 
the purposes of this Act; and 
(b) delegate to a Committee by resolution and subject to any bye -laws 
made under section 49, any of the powers or duties of the Board. 
 (3) The Board may at any time dissolve or, subject to the provisions of 
subsection (1), alter the constitution of any Committee. 
 (4) Every Committee shall conform to instructions given to it by the Board 
from time to time. 
 (5) All proceedings of a Committee shall be subject to confirmation by the 
Board. 
 (6) Any person associated with the Board under subsection (1) of section 7 
or appointed as member of a Committee under clause (iii) of subsection (1) shall be 
entitled to receive such remuneration as may be 
1
[fixed by the board]. 
9. Meetings of Committees .– (1) Committees app ointed under section 8 may 
meet and adjourn as they think proper; but the Chairman of the Board may whenever 
he deems fit call a special meeting of any such Committee, and shall call a special 
meeting upon the written request of not less than two members o f the Committee 
within 10 days of the receipt of the request. 
 (2) A meeting of a Committee shall be presided over; 
(i) by the Chairman if he be present; or 
(ii) if the Chairman be not present and there be present only one member 
of the Board who is on the Committee, by such member; or 
(iii) if there be not present the Chairman but there be present more than 
one members of the Board who are on the Committee by any one of 
them chosen by the Committee for the purpose; or 
                                                           
1Substituted for the word “prescribed”  by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V o f 
1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 9. 
(iv) if there is no member of the Boar d present who is on the Committee, 
by any member of the Committee chosen by the Committee. 
 (3) All questions which come before any meeting of a Committee shall be 
decided by a majority of the votes of the members present, the person presiding at 
the meeting having a second or casting vote in case of equality of votes. 
 (4) No business shall be transacted at any meeting of a Committee unless 
at least two of its members are present. In the case of want of quorum the Chairman 
or if he be not present the Secre tary shall proceed under the provisions of the 
proviso to section 6(1)(b). 
1
[10. Appointment of officers, etc .– (1) The Board may appoint such officers,  
advisers and servants as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its 
functions on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit. 
 (2) The Chairman may, in cases of emergency appoint such officers, 
advisers or servants on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit: 
 Provided that every such appointment shall be reported to the Board without 
unreasonable delay and shall not continue beyond six months unless approved by 
the Board. 
11. Recruitment, conditions of service and disciplinary powers .– (1) 
Procedure for the appointment of the officers and servants of the Board and the 
terms and the cond itions of their service shall be such as may be provided by bye -
laws. 
 (2) Subject to rules and bye -laws, the Board shall be competent to take 
disciplinary action against its officers and servants.] 
12. Control by Chairman.– The Chairman shall exercise sup ervision and control 
over all officers and servants of the Board and subject to the foregoing sections, 
shall dispose of all questions relating to the service of these officers and servants 
and their pay, privileges and allowances. 
2
[13. Delegation of powers.– (1) The Board may delegate to the Chairman or any 
Member or officers any of its powers under this Act or the rules or bye-laws. 
 (2) The Chairman may likewise delegate to any Member or officer any of 
his powers under this Act or the rules or bye -laws, not being a power delegated to 
him by the Board under sub-section (1).] 
14. Supply of information and documents to Government .– (1) The Chairman 
shall forward to the Government a copy of the minutes of the proceedings of each 
meeting of the Board within t en days from the date on which such minutes are 
signed as prescribed in clause (e) of subsection (1) of section 6. 
                                                           
1Substituted the sections 10 and 11 by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp.1647 -1652, s.  10 and amended vide 
Notification No. SO.V(O&M) -2-15/72, dated the January  23, 1973, the Secretary to Government of the Punjab (I&P) is 
appointed as “Administrative” whereas the Board stood dissolved w.e.f January 31, 1973, A.N simultaneously. 
2Substituted the sections 10 and 11 by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 11. 
 (2) If the Government so directs in any case the Chairman shall forward to 
it a copy of all the papers which were laid before the Board for consideration at any 
meeting. 
 (3) The Government may require the Chairman to furnish it with:– 
(i) any return, statement, estimate, statistics or other information 
regarding any matter under the control of the Board; or 
(ii) a report on any such matter; or 
(iii) a copy of any document in the charge of the Chairman, or in the office 
of the Board. 
 The Chairman shall comply with every such requisition without unreasonable 
delay. 
15. Scrutiny of soil reclamation activities of other Departments .– The Board 
shall have powers, subject to any rules that may be framed by the Government, to 
scrutinize the activities of other departments affecting soil reclamation. 
16. Use of mechanical plants of Departments .– The Board shall be provided, 
subject to any rules that ma y be framed by the Government, if necessary, 
mechanical plants belonging to the various departments. 
CHAPTER IV 
Schemes and procedure to be followed in framing them 
17. Scheme for reclamation .– The Board may on its own motion or on the 
application of any owner or any person interested in land within a local area frame or 
require a department 
1
[or any other agency] to frame, a scheme for reclamation of 
the local area or part thereof or for prevention of the spread of thur or sem  likely in 
the opinion of the Board to threaten the local area in the near future 
2
[providing, 
amongst others, for all] or any of the following matters:– 
(i) The acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as modified by 
this Act, of any land or any interest in land necessary for  or affected by 
the execution of the scheme. 
(ii) The acquisition by purchase, lease, exchange or otherwise of such 
land or interest therein. 
(iii) The retention, letting on hire, lease, sale, exchange or disposal 
otherwise of any land vested in or acquired by the Board. 
(iv) The relaying of any land comprised in the scheme and reservation of 
any part thereof not exceeding one -fifth of the total area for the 
common purposes of the village or villages comprised totally or partially 
in the scheme, and the red istribution of the rest of the land among the 
owners of the property comprised in the scheme, and management of 
lands reserved for common purposes. 
                                                           
1Inserted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette 
of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 12(a). 
2Substituted for the words “providing for all” by the Ordinance ibid., s.12(b). 
(v) The layout and construction of villages including the demolition of the 
existing buildings by the Board or by the owners and by the Board in 
case of default by the owners. 
(vi) The provision of facilities for communication including the layout and 
alteration of roads, streets, footpaths, bridle paths and waterways. 
(vii) The breaking up, cultivation, affores tation or plantation of lands, and 
the raising, lowering or reclamation of any land for the production of 
foodgrains, fruit, vegetables, fuel, fodder and the like and the provision 
of means of irrigation and irrigation channels by the Board or by the 
owners, and the Board in default of owners, the cost being recoverable 
from  the  owners  in  the  latter  case,  if considered justified by the 
Board. 
(viii) The draining of villages and land. 
(ix) The provision of a system of drains, open or covered and outfa lls for 
the improvement of ill-drained lands. 
(x) The provision of fisheries, poultry farms, live -stock farms, dairy farms, 
sheep farms, bee farms, sericulture farms and the like. 
(xi) The installation, management and maintenance of tube-wells and lifting 
and disposal of underground waters by other means. 
(xii) The doing of all acts intended to promote the health, wellbeing and 
prosperity of the residents of a local area, including the soil 
conservation and preservation from injury or pollution of rivers an d 
other sources and means of water-supply. 
(xiii) The advances to the owners, occupiers or tenants of land comprised in 
the scheme upon such term and conditions as may be prescribed 
under the scheme of the whole or part of the capital requisite for 
breaking up and cultivation of land, construction of watercourses, 
digging drains, laying pipes overground and underground, sinking  of 
wells, purchase of cattle, agricultural implements, machinery and seeds 
and for any purposes subsidiary to agriculture and for erection of 
houses, godowns and cattle sheds. 
(xiv) The establishment of an insurance fund for insurance on compulsory or 
voluntary basis of crops, and cattle, recovery for insurance premia, 
contribution and distribution of benefits from the insurance fund  subject 
to the provisions of any law applicable thereto. 
(xv) The execution or carrying out of survey of any scheme or part of the 
scheme by any Department on such terms and conditions as may be 
agreed upon between the Board and the Government. 
(xvi) Replacement of canal water-supply by tube-well or open well in part or 
whole. 
(xvii) Carrying out of research work relating to soil reclamation through any 
department where the facilities exist or can be provided for. 
(xviii) Carrying out of lining of channels  in consultation with the Irrigation 
Department where the Board considers such a measure desirable. 
(xix) All other matters which the Board with the approval of the Government 
or the Government may deem necessary to promote the general 
efficiency of a sche me or for the reclamation and improvement of any 
local area. 
(xx) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Canal and Drainage Act, VIII 
of 1873, to provide for, in a local area– 
(a) the improvement, alteration, extension or curtailment of any 
watercourse; 
(b) the amalgamation or separation of any irrigation chak; 
(c) the transfer of any area from one source of irrigation to another; 
(d) the temporary increase or decrease of water allowance to any 
area or total curtailment of water-supply; 
(e) the alteration, amendment or cancellation of any order already in 
force regarding the distribution of water on any watercourse or 
the mutual rights or liabilities in respect of the use, construction 
or maintenance of a watercourse or the issue of a fresh order 
superseding any existing order or mutual agreement; 
(f) the prohibition of growing of any crops or laying down any 
specific crop rotation; 
(g) the application of any type and quantity of manuring whether 
green, artificial or farm yard; and 
(h) the construction of any field drains and drainage works. 
18. Publication of notice as to schemes and supply of documents to 
applicants.– (1) when a scheme under this Act has been framed, the Board shall 
prepare a notice stating:– 
(i) the fact that the scheme has been framed; 
(ii) the boundaries of the locality comprised in the scheme; and 
(iii) the place at which details of the scheme including a statement of the 
land proposed to be acquired or on which it is proposed to charge a 
Reclamation Fee and a general map of the locali ty comprised in the 
scheme, may be inspected during specified hours. 
 (2) The Board shall– 
(i) cause the said notice to be published weekly for three consecutive 
weeks in the official Gazette and in a newspaper or newspapers 
selected by the Chairman for th e purpose specifying the period which 
shall not be less than 30 days within which objections against the 
scheme will be received; and 
1
[(ii) send a copy of the notice to– 
(a) the Deputy Commissioner of each District and the Chairman of 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Soil Reclamation (Punjab Amendment) Ordinance, 1970 (VI of 1970), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated November 7, 1970, pp. 433-434, s. 2.  
each District Council and Union Council within whose jurisdiction 
the whole or any part of the locality comprised in the scheme is 
situated and ask them to send to the Board, within six weeks 
from the date of the receipt of the copy of the notice, any 
representation which the y may wish to make in respect of the 
scheme; and 
(b) each police -station and Patwarkhana within whose jurisdiction 
the whole or any part of the locality comprised in the scheme is 
situated for displaying it at a conspicuous place in the police -
station or Patwarkhana, as the case may be, for public 
information.]  
 (3) The Chairman shall cause copies of the documents referred in clause 
(iii) of subsection (1) to be delivered to any person applying for the same on payment 
of such fees as may be prescribed. 
19. Notice of proposed acquisition of land .– (1) During the thirty days next 
following the first day on which any notice is published under section 18 in respect of 
any scheme under this Act, the Board shall serve a notice on– 
(i) every person whom the Board has reason to believe after due enquiry 
to be the owner of any immovable property which it proposes to 
acquire for executing the scheme 
1
[* * *]; 
(ii) the occupier or tenant (who need not be named) of such premises or 
land as the Board proposes to acquire for executing the scheme. 
 (2) Such notice shall– 
(a) state that the Board proposes to acquire such property 
2
[* * * *], for the 
purposes of carrying out a scheme under this Act, and 
(b) require such person, if he objects to such acquisition
 3
[* * * *], to  state 
his reason in writing within a period of 30 days from the service of the 
notice. 
 (3) Every such notice shall be signed by the Chairman or by an officer of 
the Board authorised by him. 
20. Consideration of objections and application for sanction of scheme.– (1) 
After the expiry of the period respectively prescribed in clauses (i) and (ii) of 
subsection (2) of section 18 and clause (b) of subsection (2) of section 19, the Board 
shall consider any objection or representation received in response to the  notice and 
after hearing all persons making any such objection or representation who may 
desire to be heard in person or through representative, the Board may either 
abandon the scheme or apply to the Government for sanction of the scheme as 
originally framed or with such modifications as the Board may deem necessary. 
                                                           
1Omitted by the Ordinance ibid., s. 3(a).  
2Omitted by the Soil Reclamation (Punjab Amendment) Ordinance, 1970 (VI of 1970), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated November 7, 1970, pp. 433-434, s. 3(b).  
3Omitted by the Soil Reclamation (Punjab Amendment) Ordinance, 1970 (VI of 1970), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated November 7, 1970, pp. 433-434, s. 3(b).  
 (2) The application made by the Board to Government under subsection 
(1) shall be accompanied by– 
(i) complete plans and details of the scheme and an estimate of the cost 
of executing it; 
(ii) a statement of the reasons for modifications, if any, made in the 
scheme as originally framed; 
(iii) a statement of objections and representations, if any, received under 
section 18; 
(iv) a list of the names of the persons, if any, who have objected und er 
clause (b) of subsection (2) of section 19, to the proposed acquisition 
of their property, 
1
[* * * *], and a statement of the reasons given for such 
objections; and 
(v) a statement of the arrangements made or proposed by the Board for 
the resettlement or rehousing of persons who are likely to be displaced 
by the execution of the scheme. 
21. Government may sanction, reject or return scheme .– (1) The Government 
may sanction with or without modifications, or may refuse to sanction or may return 
for reconsideration any scheme submitted to it under section 20. 
 (2) If a scheme returned for reconsideration under subsection (1) is 
modified by the Board, it shall be re -published in accordance with the provisions of 
section 18, in every case in which the modificat ion affects the boundaries of the 
locality comprised in the scheme or involves the acquisition of any land not 
previously proposed to be acquired, or the levy of reclamation fee on the land which 
was not previously proposed to be liable to such reclamation fee. 
22. Notification of sanction of scheme .– (1) Wherever the Government 
sanctions any scheme under this Act, it shall announce the fact by notification, and 
the Board shall forthwith proceed to execute the scheme. 
 (2) A notification under subsection (1 ) in respect of any scheme shall be 
conclusive evidence that the scheme has been duly framed and sanctioned and shall 
not be called into question by or before any court. 
23. Alteration of scheme after sanction.– A scheme sanctioned by Government 
under this Act, may be modified by the Board at any time during its execution: 
 Provided that– 
(a) if any modification is estimated to increase the estimated net cost of 
executing the scheme by more than rupees five lakhs or 20 per cent of 
the said estimated net cos t, whichever is less, such modification shall 
not be made without the previous sanction of the Government, or 
(b) if any modification involves the acquisition, otherwise than by 
agreement of any land, the acquisition of which was not included in the 
scheme sanctioned by the Government or involves the levy of 
reclamation fee on land not liable to such fee under the said scheme, 
                                                           
1Ibid., s. 4.  
the procedure prescribed in the foregoing sections of this chapter shall, 
so far as applicable, be followed as if the modifications were a separate 
scheme. 
1
[24. Merging of different schemes in one consolidated scheme .– The Board 
may at any time merge in one consolidated scheme any number of schemes in 
operation, framed or proposed to be framed under this Act.] 
25. Passing over of work s and services to owners .– As soon as any scheme 
has been executed by the Board or at a later date, the Board may by written 
requisition call upon the owner or owners of any particular area covered by the 
scheme to take over and maintain any of the works a nd services in that area and the 
owner or owners shall be bound to comply with such requisition. 
26. Control over underground water.– (1) As soon as a scheme for a local area 
or part thereof is sanctioned as notified under subsection (1) of section 22, the use of 
underground waters in that area except the water used for domestic purposes or for 
watering livestock shall come under control of the Board. The Board shall frame 
rules to define, for different areas from time to time, the uses which are to be 
included in the term “domestic purposes or watering livestock”. 
 (2) As soon as it is practicable after the issue of the notification under 
subsection (1) of section 22, the Collector shall cause public notice to be given at 
convenient places in the area conce rned stating that the use of underground waters 
in the said area is controlled, and that all persons using underground waters, for 
purposes other than domestic or for watering livestock, through tube -wells, wells and 
other appliances worked by electricity, steam, oil or wind power, should have all such 
tube-wells and wells and appliances existing on the date of the notification registered 
in the office of the Collector or the Divisional Canal Officer, as directed, within a 
period not exceeding three months from the date of the issue of such public notice. 
 (3) After publicity of the notice under subsection (2) of this section, any 
owner or occupier of land who desires to put up any new tube-well or well, worked by 
electricity, steam, oil or wind power for us ing underground waters, for any purpose 
other than domestic or for watering livestock, shall apply for a licence to the Board. 
The Board shall frame rules with the sanction of Government to determine the form 
of the licence, its terms and the officers by whom it shall be granted. Such rules shall 
provide for a guarantee being obtained from the applicant before issue of the licence 
that if in the opinion of the Board his appliance, within six months of its erection, 
seriously affects any existing use of unde rground waters, he will either abandon the 
licence or pay compensation as assessed by the Collector. 
 (4) No claim or suit shall lie for damages against the Board, Government 
or any other person, on account of any ill -effects on the appliance of the licens ee 
caused by the construction of a tube -well or the working of any appliance for the 
removal or use of underground water if the said appliance is erected or used in the 
manner prescribed by the Board. 
 (5) In the area for which the scheme has been sanction ed, the Board may 
order any tube-well or well, worked by electricity, steam, oil or wind power, for using 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 14. 
underground waters, to be closed down either temporarily during specified periods of 
the year or permanently, provided that such order shall not prohi bit the use of 
underground waters by any owner or occupier of land for domestic purposes and for 
watering livestock. In cases where permanent closing down is ordered, the Board 
shall either provide some alternative source of water -supply or award reasonabl e 
compensation. In determining such compensation, regard shall be had to the 
diminution in the market value, at the time of making the order of closing down, of 
the property in respect of which compensation is claimed and where such market 
value is not asc ertainable, the amount shall be reckoned at 12 times the amount of 
diminution of the annual net profits of such property by the said closing down. 
 (6) The Collector who will receive the applications shall proceed to enquire 
into any such claim and to dete rmine the amount of compensation, if any, which 
should be given to the claimant and sections 8 to 11 (both inclusive), 25 to 39 (both 
inclusive), 50 to 56 (both inclusive) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as modified by 
this Act shall apply to such enquiries. 
 (7) No claim for compensation for such permanent closing down of 
appliances shall be made after the expiry of one year from the date of the order 
unless the Collector is satisfied that the claimant had sufficient cause for not making 
the claim within such period. 
 (8) Any owner or occupier of land who puts up and uses any tube -well or 
well worked by electricity, steam, oil or wind power, without a licence after the 
publicity of the notice under subsection (2) of this section or uses such an appliance  
in contravention of an order under subsection (5) shall be charged a special rate for 
each separate occasion on which such use is made. The Board with the sanction of 
Government may frame rules to fix the amount of such rate and the manner in which 
it wil l be levied. The amount declared to be due shall be payable on the date so 
specified and in default shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue and credited to 
the Board Fund under the provisions of subsection (2) of section 40. 
CHAPTER V 
Powers and Duties of the Board 
27. Notification of local area .– (1) Whenever it appears to the Board that 
measures should be taken in any area to reclaim any land affected by thur or sem 
under the provision of this Act or that preventive measures are necessary to stop 
spreading of thur or sem or both, or stopping or mitigating their appearance, it shall 
move Government to issue a notification specifying the area to be called local area 
to which the provisions of Chapters IV to VI (both inclusive) of this Act will apply. 
 (2) If in the whole or any part of the area mentioned in subsection (1) the 
Board is of the opinion that the measures mentioned in section 17 for soil 
reclamation are necessary and are in view of the extent of cost beyond the 
resources of the individual ow ners or occupiers, or that the individual owners or 
occupiers neglect or refuse to carry out the measures required under section 28 (3) 
(e) the Government on being moved by the Board may by notification declare that 
the whole or any part of that area shall  vest in the Board for the purposes of this Act 
for a period which shall be specified in the notification and which may be extended 
by Government from time to time by notification. Whenever any such notification is 
issued all private rights of whatever kin d existing in respect of any land comprising 
the area specified in the notification shall be suspended. The Government may lay 
down the terms and conditions on which the said area shall vest in the Board. 
28. General Powers .– (1) The Board may subject to s uch rules as may be 
framed by Government, undertake to carry out surveys for schemes including 
afforestation and area treatment if considered necessary, execute works, and incur 
any expenditure for the improvement, reclamation and lowering of sub -soil wate r-
table in any local area. 
 (2) The Board may enter into and perform all such contracts as it may 
consider necessary or expedient for carrying out any of the purposes of this Act. 
 (3) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by the 
preceding subsections, the Board may– 
(a) exercise powers in respect of the measures stated in section 17 of this 
Act for any scheme; 
(b) grant land vested in the Board to any person on any condition it thinks 
fit, and for this purpose issue a statement or sta tements of conditions 
on which the Board is willing to grant land to tenants; 
Provided that no land which has been vested in the Board for 
management on behalf of the Government shall be granted to any 
person without the statement of conditions having been  approved by 
the Government; 
(c) if satisfied that a tenant has committed a breach of any condition of the 
tenancy, after giving the tenant an opportunity to appear and state his 
objections impose on him a penalty not exceeding five hundred rupees 
or resume the land so granted; 
Provided that if the breach is capable of being rectified the penalty shall 
not be imposed nor resumption ordered without giving the tenant an 
opportunity of rectifying it within 30 days of the receipt by him of the 
notice to this ef fect, unless the Board is of the opinion, for reasons to 
be recorded, that such delay will frustrate the scheme: 
Provided further that when any land is so resumed the tenant shall be 
entitled to such compensation for the standing crops and for 
improvements, made by him during the tenancy as may be determined 
by the Board, notwithstanding anything contained in 
1
[any other law 
relating to tenancy for the time being enforce in the area]; 
(d) take over and reclaim any land on such terms and conditions as may 
be agreed upon between the Board and the owner or owners thereof; 
(e) direct in respect of any area– 
(1) the levelling, terracing and raising embankments of fields, 
(2) the afforestation of such area or part thereof, 
(3) the execution of earthworks in fields or ravines, 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
15(a). 
(4) for the provision and construction of surface field drains or sub -
surface drains, 
(5) the training of streams, 
(6) field research, 
(7) the permitting by the owners and occupiers of sitting of tube -
wells and borings and use of water therefr om in place of that of 
canal, 
(8) the execution of such other works and the sowing of such crops 
with specific rotation as are necessary in the opinion of the 
Board to protect the land from the deteriorating action of  salts or 
water, sub-soil or otherwise or for the reclamation of such area; 
1
[(9) integration of surface and sub -surface irrigation supplies and 
replacement or partial replacement of one with the other;] 
(f) direct that any work which has been required to be done by any person 
under the preceding clause, and which remains undone shall after due 
notice to such person and consideration of any objection raised by him 
be executed by the Board, and specify the portion in which the risk and 
expense of such work shall be borne by such person, or by an y other 
person who is held by the Board, upon due enquiry after reasonable 
notice to him to be responsible for the execution of such work, in whole 
or in part; 
(g) regulate, restrict or prohibit by general or special order in respect of 
any area– 
(1) the clearing or breaking up of land for cultivation, 
(2) the quarrying of stone and the burning of lime or charcoal and 
extraction of salts, 
(3) the admission, grazing, herding, parking and retention of cattle, 
(4) the felling, girdling, lopping, tapping or bur ning of any tree or 
timber, and 
(5) the kindling, keeping or carrying of any fire; 
(h) direct the growing of a particular kind or type of crops, trees, bushes or 
grasses in a particular area; 
(i) undertake the breaking of land, planting of trees, construct ion of water-
courses and do all necessary acts to bring land vested in the Board 
under cultivation; 
(j) advance money either by way of grant or by way of loan, or partly in 
one way and partly in other to any person for the purpose of furthering 
any of the objects of this Act on such terms and conditions as to 
recovery of interest and subject to such terms and conditions as may 
be prescribed by the Government; 
(k) make arrangements for the marketing of the produce and 
                                                           
1Added by the Ordinance ibid., s. 15(b). 
manufactures of the local area; 
(l) promote and undertake research on any matter in furtherance of the 
objects of this Act; 
(m) take over temporarily such other land which may be required to build 
offtaking and intaking channels and water -courses for the reclamation 
of the local area; but in suc h a case any disturbance or loss caused to 
the cultivation of the owner of such land shall be duly compensated for 
by the Board, by levying such special charge on the area benefitted as 
may be determined by the Board and the dimensions of the land 
needed, the position thereof marked on a plan duly approved by the 
Board or an officer to whom such powers are delegated shall be 
intimated to the owner mentioned in the civil records or ascertained 
otherwise as the case may be by sending a written notice per 
registered post to his last known address seven days before the work 
is started; provided that when the offtaking channel or the intaking 
water-course is in the opinion of the Board no more needed for the 
purpose for which it was constructed, the land shall be  restored to the 
owner in its previous condition and all expenses incurred for achieving 
that condition shall be realised by the Board from the owner of the area 
benefitted. 
 (4) Any general order made under this section shall be published in such 
manner as may be prescribed. 
29. Power of controlling, letting of land .– (1) The Board may with the previous 
approval of the Government make orders– 
 (a) providing for the terms and conditions on which– 
(i) land-holders or any class of land -holder in a local area shall be 
let land for reclamation; or 
(ii) persons who at the commencement of this Act were in 
cultivating possession of agricultural land may continue in such 
possession to reclaim land; and 
(b) specifying the person or class of persons to whom agricultur al land 
shall be let by land-holders. 
 (2) An order made under the provisions of subsection (1) shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything contained in any law regulating the letting of land for 
cultivation in force in the locality to which that order appl ies, or any notice sent or 
thing done under such law. 
 (3) On the written application of the Board, any Magistrate or Police Officer 
having jurisdiction in the area shall summarily eject any person who is in cultivating 
possession of any agricultural land contrary to the provisions of an order made under 
subsection (1) and shall on similar application summarily restore possession to any 
person named in the application and for doing so may use such force as may be 
necessary for the purpose. 
 (4) In this section “land-holder” means any person who in accordance with 
any law or of any custom having the force of law has the right to let land for 
cultivation. 
30. Facility in the movement of population.– In order to facilitate the movement 
of the population in and around a local area, the Board, may from time to time– 
 (a) subject to any conditions it may deem fit to impose– 
(i) guarantee the payment from the funds at its disposal of such 
sums as it may deem fit, by way of interest on capital expended 
on the constru ction, maintenance or working of means of 
locomotion; or 
(ii) make such payments as it may deem fit from the said funds, by 
way of  subsidy to person undertaking to provide, maintain and 
work any means of locomotion; or 
(b) either singly or in combination with any other person or body, construct, 
maintain and work any means of locomotion, under the provisions of 
any law applicable thereto; or 
(c) construct, widen, strengthen or otherwise improve bridges:  
Provided that no guarantee or subsidy shall be given  or made under 
clause (a) and no means of locomotion shall be constructed, 
maintained or worked under clause (b) without the previous sanction of 
Government. 
31. Surveys or contribution towards their cost.– The Board may– 
(a) cause a survey of any land to be made when it considers that a survey 
is necessary or expedient for the carrying out of any of the purposes of 
this Act; or 
(b) contribute towards the cost of any such survey made by any other 
authority. 
32. Power of entry.– (1) The Chairman or any person acting under the general or 
special order of the Chairman may enter upon any land with such men, animals, 
vehicles, appliances and instruments as necessary and undertake investigations, 
surveys or levels thereon, and dig and bore into the sub -soil, and m ake and set up 
suitable land marks, pillars, levels marks and water gauges, and do all acts required 
for the determination of areas and intended lines of works, construct channels and 
aqueduct or alter them for securing the flow of water, and do all other acts which 
may be necessary in order to carry out all or any of the objects of the Act: 
 Provided that when the affected land does not vest in the Board, powers 
conferred by this subsection shall be exercised in such manner as to cause the least 
interference with and the least damage to the rights of the owner therein 
1
[:] 
 
2
[Provided further that where a Chairman or any person acting under his 
orders proposes to enter into any building or enclosed court or garden attached to a 
dwelling house, he shall prev iously give to the occupier of such building, enclosed 
court or garden such reasonable notice as the urgency of the case may allow.] 
                                                           
1Substituted for the “full -stop” by the West Pakistan Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1965 (XXXIV of 1965), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Ex traordinary), dated November 2, 1965, pp. 5607 -5614, s. 3 read with Second Schedule, Sr. No. 
20. 
2Added by the Ordinance ibid. 
 (2) It shall be lawful for any person authorised under subsection (1) to 
make an entry for the purpose of inspection or se arch, to open or cause to be 
opened a door, gate or other barrier– 
(a) if he considers the opening thereof necessary for the purpose of such 
entry, inspection or search; and 
(b) if the occupier or owner, as the case may be, is absent or being 
present, refuses to open such door, gate or barrier: 
 Provided that the compensation shall be paid for the damage caused in such 
manner as the Board may prescribe by by -laws and in case of dispute as to its 
adequacy, the matter shall be referred to the Tribunal. 
CHAPTER VI 
Acquisition, abandonment of acquisition of land 
and levy of reclamation fee 
33. Modification of Act I of 1894 .– For the purpose of compulsory acquisition of 
land by the Board, the Land Acquisition Act I of 1894, shall be deemed to have been 
modified as indicated in the schedule to this Act. 
34. Acquisition of land in urgent cases .– (1) The Government may by 
notification in the official Gazette declare any locality comprised in a local area to be 
acquired immediately for the purposes of reclamation or a ny other purpose 
connected therewith, and direct the Board to undertake in respect of such locality all 
or any such matters as may be included in a scheme under section 17. 
 (2) After a notification has been issued under subsection (1) in respect of 
any locality, the Board may apply to the Collector who after giving such reasonable 
notice to the owners and occupiers as may be prescribed, shall deliver possession of 
any land in such locality to the Board  and  the  land  shall  thereupon,  
notwithstanding  a nything contained in the Land Acquisition Act I of 1894, vest 
absolutely in the Board free from all encumbrances subject only to payment  of 
compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as modified in the schedule 
referred to in section 33 of this Act. 
 (3) The Board shall in respect of any such locality do all such acts as it 
may be required to do by the notification and shall proceed to frame a scheme under 
section 17 as soon as may be possible. 
35. Tribunals.– (1) For the purpose of performing the functions of the Court in 
reference to the acquisition of land for the Board under the Land Acquisition Act I of 
1894 as modified by this Act, the Government may by notification, constitute one or 
more Tribunals, and may define the local limit of their jurisdictions. 
 (2) The Tribunal shall consist of three members namely a President and 
two Assessors chosen by the Government. 
 (3) The President of the Tribunal shall be a person qualified to be a Judge 
of the High Court. 
 (4) The term of office of the Presi dent and Assessors of the Tribunal shall 
be three years and they shall be eligible for reappointment. 
 (5) The Tribunal shall be deemed to be the Court and the President shall 
be deemed to be the Judge for the purpose of compulsory acquisition under the 
Land Acquisition Act I of 1894, as modified by this Act. 
 (6) The President of the Tribunal, shall have the powers of a Civil Court 
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for purposes of contempt of Court 
proceedings, to summon and enforce the attendance o f witness and to compel the 
production of documents by them. 
 (7) The Government may, at its discretion, remove any member of the 
Tribunal and appoint any other person in his place. 
 (8) The Government may, by notification, frame rules providing for– 
(a) the emoluments or allowances to be paid to the President and the 
Assessors of the Tribunal and other conditions of their service; 
(b) the employment by the President of such ministerial staff as is 
necessary to carry out the work of the Tribunal, and the fi xation of 
scales of pay of such staff; 
(c) the grant of leave, promotion, or taking of disciplinary actions by the 
President in respect of the ministerial staff; and 
(d) generally for the conduct of business before the Tribunal. 
 (9) For the purpose of the  award to be made by the Tribunal under the 
Land Acquisition Act I of 1894, the following rules shall apply, that is to say– 
(a) if there is disagreement between the members of the Tribunal 
regarding measurement of land, or the amount of compensation or 
costs, the opinion of majority shall prevail; 
(b) the decision on questions of law and procedure shall rest solely with 
the President; and it shall also be for him to decide whether a matter is 
a question of law or not; 
(c) the President shall not be bound t o consult the Assessors relating to 
the determination of persons to whom compensation is to be paid, or 
apportionment thereof, and may in his discretion dispose of such 
question singly and in that case his decision shall be deemed to be a 
decision of the Tribunal. 
 (10) An award of the Tribunal shall be enforced by the Court of Senior Civil 
Judge of the district in which the land under acquisition is situated as if it were the 
decree of that Court. 
36. Appeals.– (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court aga inst the decision of the 
Tribunal which shall for that purpose be deemed to be a civil Court Subordinate to 
the High Court, and the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of 
first appeals shall in so far as these may be applicable apply to such appeals. 
 (2) Every order passed by the High Court on appeal under this section, 
shall be enforced by the Court of the Senior Civil Judge within the limits of whose 
jurisdiction the award or order appealed against was made, as if it were a decree  of 
that Court. 
 (3) An appeal under this section shall be deemed to be an appeal under 
the Code of Civil Procedure, V of 1908, within the meaning of Article 156 of the First 
Schedule to the Limitation Act, IX of 1908. 
37. Abandonment of acquisition .– (1) An owner of land comprised in any 
scheme sanctioned by the Government, or any other person having an interest 
therein, may apply to the Board that the acquisition of the land which is not required 
for the execution of the schemes be abandoned. The Board ma y admit for 
consideration such application if it is made at any time before the Collector has made 
an award under section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, I of 1894. If the application is 
admitted the Board shall intimate this fact to the Collector who shal l thereupon stay 
further proceedings connected with the acquisition of land in respect of which the 
application is admitted and the same shall not be reopened until so desired by the 
Board. 
 (2) The Board may, in its discretion allow such application on pa yment of 
prescribed fee and subject to such terms and conditions as it may impose in this 
behalf. 
 (3) If any application under subsection (1) is rejected by the Board or 
though the application is allowed, the fee mentioned in subsection (2) is not paid or  
the conditions are not fulfilled by the person concerned within the prescribed period, 
the Board shall intimate the fact to the Collector, who shall take up the proceedings 
for the acquisition of the land from the stage at which they had been stayed. 
38. Reclamation fee .– (1) When by the execution of any scheme, the value of 
the land included therein is expected to be increased the Board may at any time after 
the sanction of the scheme under section 21 proceed to levy and recover 
reclamation fee in respect  of such land in accordance with the rules framed by 
Government under subsection (4). 
 (2) When by the execution of any scheme under this Act increase has 
actually taken place in the value of any land in the area comprised therein or the 
expenditure actually incurred on the execution of the scheme is in the opinion of the 
Board more than the increase or expenditure anticipated at the time of assessing the 
reclamation fee recovered under subsection (1), the Board may, before restoring the 
land, levy and reco ver in respect of the land such further amount of reclamation fee 
as it may consider suitable. 
 (3) In fixing the amount of reclamation fee to be charged in respect of any  
land  or class of land, the Board shall also take into consideration the actual 
expenditure incurred or to be incurred on the execution of the scheme and the 
degree to which the land or any part of the land has or will be benefited thereby. 
 (4) The Government may frame rules providing for– 
(a) the manner in which the demand for the recl amation fee shall be 
assessed and distributed on the land comprised in the scheme and the 
person or persons by whom the fee shall be payable; 
(b) the acceptance by the Board of a satisfactory and sufficient security in 
lieu of immediate payment of reclamat ion fee by an owner of land or 
any person interested therein; 
(c) the mode by which the reclamation fee shall be realised and the 
number of installments to be allowed in this connection and the interest 
chargeable on balances outstanding from time to time; and 
(d) the mode of preferring appeal from assessment by the Board and the 
authority to which the appeal shall lie. 
39. Fresh acquisition.– If any land in respect of which any reclamation fee has 
been charged under the provisions of section 37 or 38 be su bsequently required for 
any of the purposes of this Act, the payment of fee or any other act done under the 
rules framed under section 38(4) shall not be deemed to prevent the acquisition of 
the land in pursuance of a fresh declaration under section 6 of t he Land Acquisition 
Act, I of 1894. 
CHAPTER VII 
Finance 
40. Board Fund.– (1) There shall be a fund to be known as “Board Fund” vested 
in the Board which shall be utilised by the Board to meet charges in connection with 
its functions under this Act including the salaries and other remunerations of the staff 
of the Board and the Tribunal and any officers and servants duly appointed under the 
Act. 
 (2) All sums received by the Board shall be credited to the Board Fund. 
41. Board to levy taxes .– (1) The Board m ay, with the previous sanction of the 
Government, levy on any local area or part thereof a tax to be known as “Land 
Improvement Tax” to implement various measures of reclamation: 
 Provided that the Board may exempt any person or class of persons from the 
payment of whole or part of any such tax due from him or them on such conditions 
as it may impose. 
42. Grants-in-aid.– (1) The Government may allow any grant -in-aid to the Board 
for carrying out its duties under the Act. 
 (2) Any local body may, and when so  required by the Government shall, 
grant such amount of money to the Board as may be specified in the requisition. 
43. Borrowing of money.– The Board shall be deemed to be a local authority for 
the purpose of borrowing money under the Local Authorities Loa ns Act, IX of 1914, 
and the making and execution of any scheme under this Act shall be deemed to be a 
work which such Board is legally authorised to carry out. 
44. Custody and investment of Board Funds .– (1) In any place in 
1
[West 
Pakistan] where there is a Government treasury or sub -treasury, or a bank to which 
the Government treasury business has been made over, all moneys at the credit of 
the Board shall be kept in such treasury, sub-treasury or bank. 
 (2) In places where there is no such treasury or sub-treasury or bank, such 
moneys may be kept with a banker or person acting as a banker, who has given 
such security for the safe custody and repayment on demand of the sums so kept as 
the Government may in each case deem sufficient. 
 (3) Nothing in the fore going provision of this section shall be deemed to 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “the Punjab” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 
1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 16. 
preclude the Board from investing any such moneys as are not required for 
immediate expenditure in any of the securities described in section 20 of the Trust 
Act, II of 1882 or placing them in fixed deposi t with a bank approved by the 
Government. 
45. Procedure on failure of the Board to repay loans .– If any money borrowed 
under section 43 or any interest or costs due in respect thereof is or are not repaid 
according to the conditions of the loans the Govern ment may itself make such 
payment and may attach the rents and other income of the Board: and thereupon the 
provisions of section 5 of the Local Authorities Loans Act, IX of 1914 shall, with all 
necessary modifications, be deemed to apply. 
46. Recouping of  payments made by Government .– The Government may 
further impose or increase a tax on the annual value of buildings or
1
 lands situated 
within the local area and enhance the rate of land revenue and occupiers’ rates 
within the local area to such extent as m ay be necessary for the purpose of 
recouping a payment made by Government under section 45. 
47. Payment by Government to be a charge on the property of the Board .– 
All moneys paid by the Government under section 45 shall constitute a charge upon 
the property of the Board. 
CHAPTER VIII 
Rules and bye-laws 
48. Power of Government to make rules .– (1) In addition to the  power 
conferred by any other provision of this Act the Government may by notification in 
the official gazette make rules consistent with this Act:– 
(i) as to the authority on which money may be paid from the Board Fund; 
(ii) for fixing the fees payable for copies of, or extracts from, the record 
furnished by the Chairman; 
(iii) as to the employment terms of service suspension and removal of 
officers and servants of the Board and the conduct of such officers and 
servants; 
(iv) as to the intermediate office or offices, if any, through which 
correspondence between the Board and the Government or servants of 
the Government shall pass; 
(v) as to the acc ounts to be kept by the Board, the manner in which such 
accounts shall be audited and published, and the powers of auditors in 
respect of the disallowance and surcharge; 
(vi) as to the authority by whom, the conditions subject to which and the 
mode in whic h contracts may be entered into and executed on behalf 
of the Board; 
2
[(vii) as to the preparation of annual estimates of income and expenditure of 
                                                           
1Printed as “or” in the orginal Gazette. 
2Substituted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 17. 
the Board;] 
(viii) as to the returns, statements and reports to be submitted by the Board; 
(ix) to prescribe and define the mutual relations, to be observed between 
the Board, other departments and local authorities in any matter in 
which they are jointly interested; 
(x) for regulating the grant of leave of absence leave allowance and acting 
allowance to the officers and servants of the Board; 
(xi) for establishing and maintaining a Provident or annuity fund for 
compelling all or any of the officers in the service of the Board or of the 
Tribunal (other than any servant of Government in respect of whom a 
contribution is paid under section 69) to contribute to such fund at such 
rates and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by such 
rules and for supplementing such contributions out of the funds of the 
Board: 
Provided that a Government servant, employed as  an officer or servant 
of the Tribunal as also those who are on deputation to the Board shall 
not be entitled to leave or leave allowance otherwise than as may be 
prescribed by the conditions of his service under the Government; 
(xii) for determining the c onditions under which the officers and servants of 
Board or of the Tribunal, or any of them, shall on retirement receive 
gratuities or compassionate allowances, and the amount of such  
gratuities and compassionate allowances and providing that it shall be 
at the discretion of the Board or of the Tribunal, as the case may be, to 
determine whether all such officers and servants or any and if so, 
which of them, shall become entitled on retirement to any such 
gratuities or compassionate allowances as aforesaid; 
(xiii) generally for the guidance of the Board and officers in all matters 
connected with the carrying out of the provisions of this Act; 
(xiv) for regulating the grant of subsidies to the Board by the Government, 
the conditions under which they may be ea rned or forfeited and the 
arrangements for their repayments; 
(xv) as to the methods, details and programs for reclamation of land under 
different circumstances. 
 (2) All acts authorised or enjoined under this Act shall be held to be 
authorised or enjoined subject to such rules. 
49. Power of the Board to make bye -laws.– The Board may from time to time 
with the previous sanction of the Government and shall if required by the 
Government, make bye-laws consistent with this Act and with any rules made under 
this Act by the Government– 
(i) for fixing the amount of security to be furnished by any officer or 
servant of the Board under the provisions of this Act; 
(ii) for associating persons with the Board under subsection (1) of section 
7; 
(iii) for regulating the d elegation of powers or duties of the Board to 
committees or to the Chairman; 
(iv) for guidance of persons employed by it under this Act; 
(v) for the management, use and regulation of dwellings constructed under 
any scheme under this Act; and 
(vi) generally for discharging the functions of the Board under this Act. 
50. Printing and sale of copies of rules and bye-laws.– (1) The Chairman shall 
cause the rules and bye -laws made under sections 48 and 49 respectively to be 
printed and shall cause printed copies thereof to be delivered to any applicant on 
payment of such fees as he may fix. 
 (2) Notice of the fact of copies of rules and bye -laws being obtainable at 
the said price and of the place where and the person from whom the same are 
obtainable shall be give n by the Chairman by advertisement in one or more 
newspapers selected by him for the purpose. 
51. Power of Government to cancel bye -laws made under section 49 .– The 
Government may, after previous publication of its intention, cancel any bye -laws 
made by the Board which it has sanctioned, and thereupon the bye -laws shall cease 
to have effect. 
CHAPTER IX 
Procedure and penalties 
52. Signature on notice, summons, order, requisition, proclamation or bill .– 
Every notice, summons, order, requisition, proclamation or bill issued by the Board 
under this Act shall be signed by the Chairman, or by any other member or any 
officer or servant of the Board specially or generally authorised by the Board, or so 
authorised by the Chairman under subsection (1) of section 13, a nd every such 
notice, summons, order, requisition, proclamation or bill shall be deemed to be 
properly signed, if it bears the facsimile of the signature of the Chairman or such 
member, officer or servant stamped or printed thereon. 
53. Method of giving pu blic notice .– Subject to provisions of this Act, every 
public notice required to be given under this Act shall be deemed to have been duly 
given if it is published in some newspapers and pasted upon a notice board to be 
exhibited for public information at the building in which the meetings of the Board are 
ordinarily held. 
54. Service of notice .– (1) Every notice, other than a public notice, summons, 
order, requisition, proclamation and bill, issued under this Act shall, unless it is under 
this Act otherwise expressly provided, be served, delivered or presented– 
(a) personally or by sending it by registered post, to the person to whom it 
is addressed; or 
(b) if such person cannot be found, then by leaving the notice, summons, 
order, requisition or bill at his last known place of abode, or by giving or 
tendering it to some adult male member or servant of his family, 
ordinarily residing with him, or by causing it to be affixed on some 
conspicuous part of the building or land to which it relates. 
 (2) When notic e, summons, order or requisition is required or permitted 
under this Act to be served upon an owner, occupier or tenant, as the case may be, 
of a building or land, it shall not be necessary to name the owner, occupier or tenant 
therein, and the service the reof in cases not otherwise specially provided for in this 
Act shall be effected– 
(a) personally, or by sending it by registered post to the owner, occupier or 
tenant, or if there be more owners, occupiers, or tenants, then to any 
one of them; or 
(b) if su ch owner, occupier or tenant cannot be found, then by giving or 
tendering the notice to an adult male member or servant of his family 
ordinarily residing with him or by causing the notice, summons, order or 
requisition to be affixed on some conspicuous par t of the building in 
which the person on whom the notice is to be served resides; or 
(c) in the case of a proclamation, in addition to any other mode of 
proclamation which may be prescribed by this Act, by beat of drum or 
other customary method and by the pasting of a copy thereof on any 
conspicuous place in or near the property to which it relates. 
 (3) Whenever the person on whom a notice, summons, order, requisition 
or bill is to be served is a minor, service upon his guardian shall be deemed to be 
service upon the minor. 
55. Penalty for disobedience .– Where under this Act or under a notice, 
summons, order or requisition issued thereunder the public or any person is required 
to do or to refrain from doing anything, a person who fails to comply with the 
requirements shall, if such failure is not an offence punishable under any other 
section of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, be liable on conviction 
by a Magistrate of the 1st Class to a fine not exceeding five hundred rupees for 
every such failure, and in the case of a continuing breach, to a further fine which may 
extend to fifty rupees for every day after the date of the last conviction during which 
the offender is proved to have persisted in the breach: 
 Provided that where the notic e, summons, order or requisition fixes without 
authority from this Act a time within which a certain act is to be done, it shall rest with 
the Magistrate to determine whether the time so fixed was reasonable time so as to 
justify conviction. 
56. Powers of the Board to execute works on failure to comply with notice, 
summons, order or requisition .– If a notice, summons, order or requisition has 
been addressed by the Board under this Act to a person requiring him to execute a 
work in respect of any property, m ovable or immovable, public or private, or do or 
refrain from doing anything within a time specified in the notice, summons, order or 
requisition, and if such person fails to comply with it then the Board may cause such 
work to be executed or such things t o be provided or done, and may recover all 
expenses incurred by it on such account from the said person. 
57. Liability of occupier to pay on in default of owner .– (1) If the person to 
whom the notice, summons, order or requisition mentioned in section 56 h as been 
addressed is the owner of the property in respect of which it is given, the Board may 
whether any action or other proceedings have been brought or taken against such 
owner or not, require the person, if any, who is the occupier or tenant of such 
property or a part thereof under such owner, to pay to the Board instead of paying to 
the owner the rent payable by him in respect of such property, as it falls due, up to 
the amount recoverable from the owner under section 56; and any such payment 
made by the occupier or tenant to the Board shall be deemed to have been made to 
the owner of the property. 
 (2) For the purpose of deciding whether action should be taken under 
subsection (1) the Board may require an occupier or tenant of property to furnish 
information as to the sum payable by him as rent on account of such property and as 
to the name and address of the person to whom it is payable, and if the occupier or 
tenant refuses to furnish such information he shall be liable for the expenses referred 
to in section 56 as if he was the owner. 
58. Right of occupier to execute works in default of owner .– Notwithstanding 
any provisions of any other law whenever default is made by the owner of a building 
or land in the execution of a work required under this Act to be executed by him, the 
occupier or tenant of such building or land may, with the approval of and shall if so 
directed by the Board, cause such work to be executed and the expense thereof 
shall be paid by the owner, or the amount may be deducted out of the rent from time 
to time becoming due from him to such owner. 
59. Opposition to execution by occupier .– (1) If, after receiving information of 
the intention of the owner of any building or land to take any action in respect thereof 
in compliance with a notice, summons, order or requisition issued under this Act, the 
occupier or tenant refuses to allow such owner to take such action the owner may 
intimate the fact to a Magistrate, having jurisdiction in the area. 
 (2) The Magistrate, upon proof of such ref usal, may by order in writing 
require the occupier or tenant to give the owner reasonable facility for executing 
such work with respect to such building or land, as may be necessary for compliance 
with the notice, order or requisition and may also, if he d eems fit, order the occupier 
or tenant to pay to the owner the costs incurred by the source to bring the matter 
before the Magistrate and to obtain his order. 
 (3) If, after the expiry of the period which the Magistrate may fix by taking 
into consideration the nature and urgency of the work to be executed, the occupier or 
tenant continues to refuse to allow the owner to execute such work, the occupier or 
tenant shall be liable upon conviction to a fine which may extend to fifty rupees per 
day and to eviction from the property. The warrant for eviction shall be addressed by 
the Magistrate to the officer in charge of the police station concerned, and shall be 
complied with without any delay. 
 (4) Every owner, during the continuance of such refusal, shall be 
discharged from any penalties to which he might otherwise have become liable by 
reason of his default in the execution of such works. 
60. Recovery of cost of execution by the occupier from owner .– 
Notwithstanding any provisions of any other law when the occu pier or tenant of a 
building or land has, in compliance with a notice, order or requisition issued under 
this Act, executed a work for which the owner of such building or land is responsible 
either in pursuance of the contract of tenancy or by -law, he shal l be entitled to 
recover from the owner by deduction from the rent payable by him or otherwise the 
reasonable cost of such work. 
61. Relief to agents and trustees .– (1) When a person, by reason of his 
receiving, or being entitled to receive, the rent of im movable property as trustee or 
agent of a person or society would under this Act be bound to discharge an 
obligation imposed by this Act on the owner of the property for the discharge of 
which money is required he shall not be bound to discharge the obliga tions unless 
he has, or but for his own improper act or default might have had, in his hands funds 
belonging to the owners sufficient for the purpose. 
 (2) When an agent or trustee has claimed and established his right to relief 
under this section the Boar d may give him notice to apply to the discharge of such 
obligation as aforesaid the moneys which come to his hands on behalf or for the use 
of the owner, and should he fail to comply with such notice, he shall be deemed to 
be personally liable to discharge such obligation. 
62. Penalty for removing machinery etc .– If any person, without lawful 
authority– 
(a) removes any machinery, pipes, survey or other marks, gauges, fence 
or any timber used by the Board for propping or supporting any 
building, wall or othe r thing, or extinguishes any light set up at any 
place where the surface of a street or other ground has been opened, 
or broken up by the Board for the purpose of carrying out any work; or 
(b) infringes any order given, or removes any bar, chain or post fi xed by 
the Board for the purpose of closing any street to traffic, he shall be 
punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
63. Penalty for obstructing land reclamation operations or a contractor or 
removing mark.– If any person– 
(a) damages, alt ers, obstructs or interferes with any soil  reclamation 
operation so as to endanger, or damage them or to render them less 
useful, or 
(b) obstructs, or molests any person in the performance or execution of 
contract which the Board has entered into with him under this Act; or 
(c) removes any mark set up for the purpose of indicating any level or 
direction necessary to the execution of works authorised under this Act; 
he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or 
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two months. 
64. Power of Board in case of squatters and trespassers and persons in the 
unauthorised possession of land .– When the Chairman is satisfied that any 
person has taken or is in possession of land comprised in any sc heme, or any other 
land owned by or vested in the Board and to which such person has no right or title, 
or when a tenant refuses to surrender the land which has been resumed by the 
Board in consequence of a breach of the conditions on which it was held by such 
person the Chairman or any person authorised by him may in addition to any other 
powers he may possess, forthwith, with the use of such force as may be necessary, 
re-enter upon the land and resume its possession and also take possession of all 
crops, trees and buildings thereon on behalf of the Board without payment of any 
compensation whatsoever. 
1
[65. Penalty for unauthorised cultivation, etc .– (1) If any person without the 
permission of the Chairman of the Board– 
(a) clears or breaks up for cultivation or cultivates any land which is owned 
by or vests in or is in the possession of the Board and is not included in 
any tenancy or allocated residential enclosure, or which has been set 
apart for the common purposes of a town or a village community or 
section of the same or for a road, canal or water -course, the Chairman 
may confiscate the crops growing on any land cultivated in 
contravention thereof or if the crops have been cut, recover such sum 
as he may assess as the value of such crop from the offender; or 
(b) fells or otherwise destroys standing trees on such land, the Chairman 
may recover such sum as he may assess as the value of the trees 
felled or destroyed; or 
(c) erects any building on such land or otherwise encroaches on or makes 
an excavation o r construction of water channel on such land, the 
Chairman may cause the building or other encroachment to be 
demolished or removed or the excavation or the channel to be filled up 
and levy the cost of so doing from the offender. 
 (2) No order shall be pas sed under sub -section (1) without giving the 
person affected an opportunity of being heard and showing cause against the 
proposed order.] 
2
[66. * * * * * * * * *   ] 
CHAPTER X 
Supplemental provisions 
67. Members, etc., deemed public servants .– Every member, and every officer 
and servant of the Board, and every member and officer and servant of the Tribunal, 
shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the 
Pakistan Penal Code, and shall as far as practicable be subject to the sa me rules of 
conduct and be entitled to the same privileges and protection as are laid down from 
time to time for other officers of the Government. 
68. Contribution by the Board towards leave, allowances and pensions of 
Government servants.– The Board shall be liable to pay such contributions for the 
leave allowance and pension of any Government servant employed as Chairman or 
as an officer or servant of the Board, or as a member or officer or servant of the 
Tribunal as may  be  required  by  the  conditions   of  his  service  under  the 
Government, to be paid to him or on his behalf. 
69. Authority for prosecution .– No court shall take cognizance of any offence 
punishable under this Act, except on the complaint of the Chairman or some person 
                                                           
1Substituted by the West Pakistan Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1965 (XXXIV of 1965), published in the Gazette of West 
Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 2, 1965, pp. 5607-5614, s. 3 read with Second Schedule, Sr. No. 20. 
2Omitted by the West Pakistan Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1965 (XXXIV of 1965) , published in the Gazette of West 
Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 2, 1965, pp. 5607-5614, s. 3 read with Second Schedule, Sr. No. 20. 
authorised by the  Board or by the Chairman by general or special order in this 
behalf. 
70. Recovery of dues .– The Chairman or any person generally or specially 
authorised by him may apply to the Collector for the recovery of any sum due under 
this Act or under an agreement  made under this Act and the Collector shall 
thereupon proceed to recover the sum due as if it were an arrear of land revenue. 
71. Powers of Chairman as to institution, etc., of legal proceedings and 
obtaining legal advice.– The Chairman may, subject to the control of the Board– 
(i) institute, defend or withdraw from legal proceedings under this Act; 
(ii) compound any offence against this Act; 
(iii) admit, compromise or withdraw any claim made under this Act; and 
(iv) obtain such legal advice and assistance  as he may from time to time 
deem necessary or expedient to obtain, or as he may be desired by the 
Board to obtain for any of the purposes referred to in the foregoing 
clauses of this section, or for securing the lawful exercise or discharge 
of any power o r duty vested in or imposed upon the Board or any 
officer or servant of the Board. 
72. Indemnity of acts under the Act .– No criminal proceedings of any kind shall 
be maintainable against the Board or any member, officer or servant thereof, or any 
other per son in respect of anything done or purported to be done lawfully and in 
good faith and with due care and attention in exercise of powers under this Act or 
rules or bye-laws framed thereunder or under the directions issued in the exercise of 
such powers. 
73. Notice of suit against the Board, etc .– (1) No suit shall be instituted against 
the Board or any member, or any person associated with the Board under section 7 
or any member of a committee appointed under section 8 or any officer or servant of 
the Board or of the Chairman or of any officer or servant of the Board, in respect of 
any act purported to be done within the scope of the functions under this Act, until 
the expiration of two months next from the date on which a notice in writing has 
been, in the case of the Board, left at its office, and in any other case delivered to or 
left at the office or place of abode of the person to be sued, explicitly stating the 
cause of action, the nature of the relief sought, the amount of compensation claimed 
and the name and place of abode of the intending plaintiff; and in case the suit is 
filed, the plaint shall contain a statement that such notice has been so delivered or 
left. 
 (2) If the Board or other person referred to in subsection (1) shall before 
the action is commenced have tendered in the opinion of the court sufficient amends 
to the plaintiff, the plaintiff shall not recover any sum in excess of the amount so 
tendered and shall also pay all costs incurred by the defendant after such tender. 
 (3) No action such as is described in subsection (1) shall, unless it is an 
action for the recovery of immovable property or for a declaration of the title thereto, 
be commenced otherwise than within six months from the date of the cause of action 
or the knowledge of the plaintiff, whichever is later: 
 Provided that nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed to apply to a suit 
wherein the only relief claimed is an injunction of which the object would be defeated 
by giving of the notice or the postponement of the instit ution of the suit or 
proceeding. 
74. Mode of proof of the records .– A copy of any receipt, application, plan, 
notice, order, entry in a register or other document in the possession of the Board, 
shall if duly certified by the legal keeper thereof, or other  person authorized by the 
Board in this behalf be received as prima facie evidence of the existence of the entry 
or document and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters and transactions 
therein recorded in every case where, and to the same extent, as the original entry 
or document would, if produced, have been admissible to prove such matters. 
75. Restriction on the summoning of the servants of the Board to produce 
documents.– No member or officer or servant of the Board shall in any legal 
proceedings to which the Board is not a party be required to produce any register or 
document, the contents of which can be proved under the preceding section by a 
certified copy, or to appear as a witness to prove the matters and transactions 
recorded therein unless by order of the court for special cause. 
76. Validation of acts and proceedings .– (1) No act done or proceedings taken 
under this Act shall be questioned on the ground merely of– 
(a) the existence of any vacancy in or any defect in the constitution of the 
Board or of any Committee; or 
(b) any person having ceased to be a member; or 
(c) the failure to serve a notice on any person where no substantial 
injustice has resulted from such failure; or 
(d) any omission, defect or irregularity not affecting the merits of the case. 
 (2) Every meeting of the Board, the minutes of the proceeding of which 
have been duly signed as prescribed in clause (e) of subsection (1) of section 6 shall 
be taken to have been duly convened and to be free from all defects and 
irregularities. 
77. General power of the Board to pay compensation .– In any case not 
otherwise expressly provided for in this Act, the Board may pay reasonable 
compensation to any person who sustains damage by reason of the exercise of any 
of the powers vested under  this Act in the Board or the Chairman or any officer or 
servant of the Board. 
78. Compensation for damage to Board’s property .– (1) If on account of any 
act or omission, any person has been convicted of any offence under this Act, and 
by reason of such ac t or omission damage has occurred to any property of the 
Board, compensation shall be paid by the said person for the said damage 
notwithstanding any punishment to which he may have been sentenced for the said 
offence. 
 (2) In the event of dispute, the amo unt of compensation payable by the 
said person shall be determined by the court before whom he was convicted of the 
said offence. 
 (3) If the amount of any compensation due under this section be not paid, 
the same shall be recovered under a warrant from th e said court, as if it were fine 
imposed by it on the person liable therefor. 
79. Ultimate dissolution of the Board and transfer of its assets and liabilities 
to an Administrator .– (1) When all schemes sanctioned under this Act have been 
executed or have b een so far executed as to render the continued existence of the 
Board, in the opinion of the Government, unnecessary, or when in the opinion of the 
Government it is expedient that the Board shall cease to exist, the Government may 
by notification declare that the Board shall stand dissolved from such date as may be 
specified in this behalf in such notification, and the Board shall be deemed to be 
dissolved accordingly. 
 (2) From such date– 
(a) all properties, funds and dues which are vested in or realizable  by the 
Board and the Chairman respectively shall vest in and be realizable by 
an Administrator appointed by the Government in this behalf; 
(b) all liabilities which are enforceable against the Board shall be 
enforceable only against the Administrator; 
1
[(c) for the purpose of preparing or executing new schemes or for the 
purpose of completing the execution of any scheme already sanctioned 
under this Act but not fully executed by the Board or for levying or 
recovering reclamation fee or for realising proper ties, funds and dues 
referred to in clause (a), the Administrator shall perform all the 
functions and exercise all the powers of the Board under the Act;] 
(d) the Administrator shall keep separate accounts of all moneys 
respectively received and expended b y him under this Act, until all 
loans raised hereunder have been repaid, and until all other liabilities 
referred in clause (b) have been duly met. 
 
2
[(3) Government may, at any time remove the Administrator and 
reconstitute the Board and thereupon–  
(a) all properties, funds and dues vested in or realizable by the 
Administrator shall vest in and be realizable by the Board;  
(b) all liabilities enforceable against the Administrator shall be enforceable 
only against the Board;  
(c) all actions taken by the A dministrator shall be deemed to have been 
taken by the Board.] 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (Amendment) Act, 1977 (IX of 1977) , published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated June 21, pp. 857-D-857-E, s. 2. 
2Added by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) Ordina nce, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of 
West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 18. 
SCHEDULE  
(Referred to in section 33) 
MODIFICATIONS IN THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT I OF 1894, HEREIN AFTER 
CALLED “THE SAID ACT” 
1. Amendment of section 3.– In section 3 of the said Act– 
(i) clause (f) shall be deemed to have been modified so as to read as 
follows:–  
“(f) the expression “public purpose” includes– 
(1) the provision of village sites in districts in which the 
Provincial Government shall have declared by notification 
in the Official G azette that it is customary for the 
Government to make such provision; 
(2) soil reclamation carried out under the Punjab Soil 
Reclamation Act, 1952:” 
(ii) the fullstop at the end of clause (g) shall be replaced by a colon and 
the following clauses shall be deemed to have been added after clause 
(g):– 
“(h) “board” means the 
1
[West Pakistan
2
 Land and Water 
Development Board ] appointed under the Punjab Soil 
Reclamation Act, 1952; 
(i) “net income” shall mean the income from the land after 
deducting therefrom th e ordinary expenses of cultivation, land 
revenue, rates and cesses; and 
(j) “rates and cesses” have the same meaning as given in section 
3(9) of the Land Revenue Act
3
, 1887
4
.”. 
2. Notification under section 4 and declaration under section 6 to be 
replaced by notification under sections 18 and 22 of this Act .– (1) The first 
publication of a notice of a reclamation scheme under section 18 of the Punjab Soil 
Reclamation Act, 1952, shall be substituted for and have the same effect as 
publication in the Gazette and in the locality, of a notification under subsection (1) of 
section 4 of the said Act, except where a notification under section 4 or a declaration 
under section 6 of the said Act has previously been made and is still in force. 
 (2) Proceedings under se ction 19 and subsection (1) of section 20 of the 
Punjab Soil Reclamation Act, 1952, shall substitute for and have the same effect as 
proceedings under section 5-A of the said Act. 
 (3) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Schedule, the 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “Punjab Soil Reclamation Board” by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
5.  
2Now “Punjab”. 
3Since repealed by the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967. 
4XVII of 1887. 
publication of a notification under section 22 of the Punjab Soil Reclamation Act, 
1952 shall substitute for and have the same effect as a declaration by the Provincial 
Government under section 6 of the said Act, unless a declaration under the last 
mentioned section has previously been made and is still in force. 
3. Amendment of Section 11 .– In section 11 of the said Act the conjunction 
“and” between clauses (ii) and (iii) shall be deleted, the fullstop at the end of clause 
(iii) shall be replaced by a semi -colon followed by the conjunction “and”, and the 
following clause shall be deemed to have been added thereafter, namely “(iv) the 
costs which in his opinion should be allowed to any person who is found to be 
entitled to compensation, as having been actual ly and reasonably incurred by such 
person in preparing his claim and putting his case before the Collector”. 
4. Amendment of Section 15 .– In section 15 of the said Act, for the word and 
figures “and 24” the figures, word, and letter “24” and “24 -A”, preceded by a comma 
shall be deemed to be substituted. 
5. New Addition of Section 16-A.– After section 16 of the said Act the following 
section shall be deemed to have been inserted, namely:– 
“16-A. Transfer of land to Board.– In every case referred to in section 16 the 
Collector shall  upon payment or tender of compensation for acquisition, make 
over charge of the land to the Board and the land shall thereupon vest in the 
Board.”. 
6. Amendment of Section 17 .– For section 17 of the said Act, the following 
shall be deemed to have been substituted:– 
 “17.(1) In cases where the Board considers it expedient to take possession of 
any land at any time before an award under section 11 has been made, it 
shall notify this fact in writing to the Collector intimating in addi tion the date by 
which the land is required by it. The Collector shall after causing a notice to 
this effect to be served on the person or persons interested in the land take 
possession of the land and transfer it to the Board in whom it shall vest 
absolutely free from all encumbrances subject to its liability to pay any 
amount which may be incurred on account of acquisition. 
 (2) The Collector shall at the time of taking possession of land offer 
to the persons interested compensation for the standing crops  and trees (if 
any) on such land and for any other damage sustained by them on account of 
dispossession and not excepted in section 24 or 24 -A; and, in case such offer 
is not accepted, the value of such crops or trees and the amount of such 
other damage sh all be allowed for while awarding compensation for the land 
under the provisions herein contained”. 
7. Amendment of Section 18 .– The following shall be deemed to have been 
substituted for subsection (1) of section 18 of the said Act, namely,– 
“Any person i nterested who has not accepted the award or the Board 
may by written application to the Collector, require that the matter be referred 
by the Collector, for determination of the court, whether his or its objection be 
to the measurement of the land, the amo unt of compensation, the persons to 
whom it is payable or the apportionment of the compensation among the 
persons interested or the amount or costs allowed”. 
8. Amendment of Section 19 .– In clause (c) of section 19 of the said Act, after 
the words “amount of compensation”, the words and brackets “and of costs (if any)”, 
shall be deemed to have been inserted. 
9. Amendment of Section 20 .– (1) In clause (c) of section 20 of the said Act, 
after the words “amount of the compensation” the words “or costs”, shall be deemed 
to have been inserted. 
 (2) Between the word “Collector” and the full stop at the end of section 20 
of the said Act, the words “and the Board”, shall be deemed to have been added. 
 (3) The existing section 20 of the said Act shall be numbered as 
subsection (1) of section 20, and the following subsections shall be deemed to have 
been added:– 
 “(2) The Board or any person to whom a notice is issued under 
clause (b) or (c) of subsection (1) may support the award and may also take 
any cross objection which could have been taken by making an application for 
reference provided such objection is filed within one month from the date of 
service of the notice under this section or within such further time as the 
Tribunal may see fit to allow. 
 (3) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, relating to 
cross objections filed under that code shall, so far as may apply to the cross 
objections filed under this section”. 
10. Amendment of Section 23 .– (1) In subsection (1) of section 23 of the said 
Act, t he word, figures and brackets “the date of the publication of the  notification 
under section 4, subsection (1)” occurring in clause first and the words and figure 
“the time of the publication of the declaration under section 6” occurring in clause 
sixth, shall be deemed to have been replaced by the words “such date as 
Government may declare.” 
 (2) For the existing subsection (2) of section 23 of the said Act, the 
following shall be deemed to have been substituted, namely:– 
 “(2) For the purposes of clause “First” of subsection (1) of this 
section the market value of the land shall be determined on the basis of the 
average net income of that land for the five years preceding the date declared 
by Government under subsection (1) of this section: 
 Provided that  if that land or any portion of it has not been cultivated, 
the net income of such land or portion in that year shall be taken to be four 
times the land revenue assessed thereon, or, if no land revenue has been so 
assessed, three times the lowest rate of l and revenue assessed on 
neighbouring land: 
 Provided further that in respect of land which is situated in a town or 
village abadi or land which is attached to a house, manufactory, or other 
building and is reasonably required for the enjoyment and use of t he house, 
manufactory or building, the market value shall be the market value according 
to the use to which the land was being put on the date declared by 
Government under subsection (1) of this section.” 
11. Amendment of Section 24 .– For clause seventh of  section 24 of the said 
Act, the following shall be deemed to have been substituted, namely:– 
 “Seventhly, any outlay on additions or improvements to land acquired, 
which was incurred after the date with reference to which the market value is 
to be determi ned, unless it is proved that these were necessary to keep the 
land in a fit state to command the profits accruing on the said date and were 
made in good faith and not in contemplation of proceedings for compulsory 
acquisition”. 
12. New Section 24 -A.– After section 24 of the said Act, the following section 
shall be deemed to have been inserted, namely:– 
 “24-A. In determining the amount of compensation to be awarded for 
any land acquired for the Board under the Punjab Soil Reclamation Act, 1952, 
the Court shall also have regard to the following provisions, namely:– 
(1) When any interest in any land acquired under this Act has been 
acquired after the date with reference to which the market value 
is to be determined, no separate estimate of the value of such 
interest shall be made so as to increase the amount of 
compensation to be paid for such land. 
(2) If, in the opinion of the court any building is in a defective state 
from a sanitary point of view or is not in a reasonably good state 
of repairs, the amount of compensation for such building shall 
not exceed the sum which the court considers, the building 
would be worth if it were put into a sanitary condition or into a 
reasonably good state of repairs, as the case may be, less the 
estimated cost of putting it into such condition or state. 
(3) If, in the opinion of the court any building which is used or is 
intended or is likely to be used for human habitation is not 
reasonably capable of being made fit for human habitation, the 
amount of compensation for such building shall not exceed the 
value of the materials of the building, less the cost of 
demolishing the building.” 
13. Amendment of Section 25.– In section 25 of the said Act– 
(i) in subsection (1) the words and figures “or be less than the amount 
awarded by the Collector under section 11”, shall be deemed to have 
been deleted, and 
(ii) the following shall be deemed to have been added as subsection (4):– 
 “(4) The court shall be competent to award an amount less 
than that awarded by the Collector, if, after consideration of any 
reference or cross objection, it is of the opinion that the amount 
awarded by the Collector is excessive”. 
14. Amendment of Section 31 .– (1) After the words “the compensation” in 
subsection (1) of section 31 of the said Act, and after the words “the amount of 
compensation” in subsection (2) of that section, the words and brackets “and costs (if 
any)” shall be deemed to have been inserted. 
15. New Section 48 -A.– After section 48 of the said Act, the following section 
shall be deemed to have been inserted, namely,– 
 “48-A. (1) If within a period of two years from the date of the publication of the 
notification under section 22 of the Punjab Soil Reclamation Act, 1952, in 
respect of any land, the Collector has not made an award under sectio n 11 
with respect to such land, the owner of the land shall, unless he has been to a 
material extent responsible for the delay, be entitled to receive compensation 
for the damage suffered by him in consequence of the delay; 
 (2) The provisions of Part III of the Act shall apply, so far as may 
be, to the determination of the compensation payable under this section”. 
16. Amendment of Section 49 .– After subsection (1) of section 49 of the said 
Act, the following subsection shall be deemed to have been inserted, namely,– 
 “(1-a) For the purpose of subsection (1) land which is held with and 
attached to a house and is reasonably required for the enjoyment and use of 
the house, shall be deemed to be part of the house”. 
17. Amendment of Section 50.– In subsection (2), section 50 of the said Act, the 
words, “or the 
1
[
2
[Punjab Land and Water Development Board ]]” shall be deemed to 
have been inserted between the words “concerned” and “may” and the proviso to the 
subsection shall be deemed to have been deleted. 
18. Deletion of Section 54.– Section 54 of the said Act shall be deemed to have 
been deleted. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “Punjab Soil Reclamation Board”  by the Punjab Soil Reclamation (West Pakistan Amendment) 
Ordinance, 1964 (V of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 19, 1964, pp. 1647-1652, s. 
5.  
2Substituted for the words “West Pakistan Land and Water Development  Board” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 
(I of 1974) (w.e.f. 14 -08-1973), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425 -A-1425-
PP, Article 2(1) read with Schedule, Part II, Sr. No. 10.