LexThe Punjab Land Improvement Schemes Act 1963
Punjab · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actGOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB
DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
THE PUNJAB LAND IMPROVEMENT SCHEME ACT, 1963
(PUNJAB ACT 23 OF 1963)
(As amended upto the 9th February, 2026)
2026
THE PUNJAB LAND IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES ACT, 1963
CONTENTS
Preamble
Sections
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY.
1. Short title
2. Definitions
CHAPTER II
NOTIFICATION OF AREAS, CONSTITUTION OF DISTRICT LAND
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AND MAKING OF LAND IMPROVEMENT
SCHEMES.
3. Notifications of areas.
4. Constitution, etc., of District Land Improvement Committees.
5. Functions of District Land Improvement Committees.
6. Power to enter upon lands to do certain acts.
7. Approval and publication of Schemes.
8. Objections to Schemes.
9. Enquiry into objections and report.
10. Sanctioning of final scheme.
11. Publication of final scheme.
12. Power of District Land Improvement Committees to make regulations.
CHAPTER III
EXECUTION OF SCHEMES.
13. Soil Conservation Officer to execute the scheme.
14. Power to carry the works under the schemes.
15. Power of State Government to carry out schemes.
CHAPTER IV
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND USE OF WORKS CARRIED OUT
UNDER SCHEMES.
16. Preparation of statement.
17. Obligation of persons to maintain and repair works.
18. Decision of disputes relating to works.
19. Amounts to be recovered.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS.
20. Penalty
21. Inquiries to be held summarily.
22. Permission to increase rent on account of improvements effected.
23. Registration of documents, plans or maps in connection with schemes not required.
24. Power to revoke schemes.
25. Inspection of documents, etc., and obtaining of copies.
26. Delegation.
27. Certain Officers to be public servants.
28. Protection of acts done in good faith.
29. Application of Punjab Act 2 of 1900 not barred.
30. Power to make rules.
THE PUNJAB LAND IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES ACT, 1963
(PUNJAB ACT No. 23 of 1963)
[Received the assent of the President of India on the 10 th May, 1963, and first
published for general information in the Punjab Government Gazette
(Extraordinary), Legislative Supplement, Part I, of 18 th May, 1963]
1 2 3 4
Year No. Short Title Whether affected by Legislation
1963 23 The Punjab Land
Improvement
Schemes Act,1963
1.Amended by the adaptation of Punjab Laws
Order ,1970
2.Amended by Punjab Act No.25 of 2017
An Act to provide for the making and execution of land improvement schemes
including schemes for soil conservation ,improvement of soil resources ,prevention
or mitigation of soil erosion, protection of land against damage by floods or
draught, farm draina ge or other works incidental to ,or connected with, such
purposes.
BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Fourteenth Year of the
Republic of India as follows :-
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. This Act may be called the Punjab Land Improvement Schemes Act, 1963.
2. In this Act ,unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Deputy Commissioner" means the Officer appointed for the time being
Short Title.
Definitions.
to be the Deputy Commissioner of a District, and includes any other
officer authorised by the State Government by notification to perform the
functions of a Deputy Commissioner under this Act and the rules made
thereunder;
(b) "Director" means the Officer appointed for the time being to be the
Director of Agriculture, and includes any other officer aut horised by the
State Government by notification to perform the functions of the Director
under this Act and the rules made thereunder;
(c) "District Land Improvement Committee" means a Committee constituted
under section 4 ;
(d) "erosion" means the removal or disp lacement of earth, stones or other
materials by the action of wind or water ;
(e) "Enquiry Officer" means an officer of the State Government appointed
by a District Land Improvement Committee under sub section (3) of
section 7;
(f) "landowner " has the same meanin g as is assigned to it in the Punjab
Land Revenue Act,1887
(g) "notified area" means any area declared to be a notified area under
section 3;
(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act;
(i) "reclamation" in relation to land , includes making land fi t for cultivation
or making any other improvement of land;
(j) "scheme" means a land improvement scheme made under this Act;
(k) "Soil Conservation Officer" means a Divisional Soil Conservation
Officer or an Assistant Soil Conservation Officer appointed by the Sta te
Government in respect of a specified area to perform the functions of the
Soil Conservation Officer under this Act and the rules made thereunder;
(l) "waste land" means any land rendered unfit for cultivation on account of
accumulation of sand , growth of w eeds , soil erosion or any other cause
notified by the State Government ;
(m)"work" means any work of public utility constructed, erected or
carried out under a scheme.
CHAPTER II
NOTIFICATION OF AREAS, CONSTITUTION OF DISTRICT LAND
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEES AND MAKING OF LAND IMPROVEMENT
SCHEMES.
3. Whenever it appears to the State Government that in any area comprising the
whole or part of a district it is necessary to provide for the making and execution of
land improvement schemes including schemes for soil conservation, improvement of
soil resources, prevention or mitigation of soil erosion, protection of land agai nst
damage by floods or draught, farm drainage or other works incidental to, or connected
with; such purposes, the State Government may, by notification declare such area to be
a notified area for the purposes of this Act.
4. (1) In every district, the whole or part of which is declared to be a notified
area, there shall be a committee to be called the District Land Improvement
Committee consisting of the Deputy Commissioner , District Agricultural Officer, Soil
Conservation Officer, Divisional Forest Officer, Chairman of the Zila Parishad and
Chairman or Chairmen of Panchayat Samiti or Panchayat Samitis of the blocks which
Notification
of areas
Constitution
etc., of
District Land
Improvement
Committees.
wholly or partly fall within the whole or part of the notified area:
Provided that where more than one Soil Conservation Officers are posted in a
district, the Soil Conservation Officer within whose jurisdiction the bulk of the notified
area is situated shall alone be the member of the District Land Improveme nt
Committee.
(2) The Deputy Commissioner shall be the Chairman of the District Land
Improvement Committee and the Soil Conservation Officer shall be the Secretary
thereof.
(3) Three members shall form the quorum for a meeting of the District Land
Improvement Committee.
(4) All questions before the District Land Improvement Committee shall be
decided according to the opinion of the majority of the members present and voting. In
case of equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
5.(1) A District Land Improvement Committee may direct the preparation of a
land improvement scheme for the whole or a part of the notified area within the district,
which may provide for all or any of the following matters : -
(i) prevention of erosion of soil;
(ii) preservation and improvement of soil;
(iii) reclamation of waste land;
(iv) improvement in the methods of cultivation including dry farming practices
and extension of cultivation;
(v) construction of earth and masonry works in fields, gullies and ravines;
Functions of
District Land
Improvement
Committees.
(vi) training of streams;
(vii) planting and preservation of trees, shrubs and grass on uncultivable land or
providing shelter-belts against wind or sand movement;
(viii) regulation of prohibition of firing of vegetation;
(ix) improvement of water-supply;
(x) farm drainage and other works incidental to, or connected with, any of the
aforesaid purposes;
(xi) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) On a direction being issued under sub -section (1), the Soil Conservation
Officer shall prepare in the prescribed manner a draft s cheme which amongst other
things shall contain the following particulars:-
(i) objects of the scheme;
(ii) the boundaries and approximate areas of the land to be included in the
scheme;
(iii) the persons, including the Government, who will be affected by the scheme;
(iv) the works to be carried out under the scheme;
(v) the agency through which the works shall be carried out ;and
(vi) such other particulars as may be considered necessary.
6.The Soil Conservation Officer or any other person authorised in writing by the
District Land Improvement Committee or the Soil Conservation Officer may enter
upon any land in a notified area for the purpose of survey and preparation of a scheme
and do all acts necessary for such purpose and in particular, may -
Power to
enter upon
lands to do
certain
acts.
(a) dig or bore into the sub-soil; or
(b) take levels and mark boundaries ;or
(c) place, erect or fix any peg or mark; or
(d) do all other acts necessary for such purpose.
7.(1) The Soil Conservation Officer shall prepare the draft scheme as required by
sub-section (2) of section 5 and shall submit the same to the District Land
Improvement Committee, which may either approve the draft scheme with or without
modification or reject it and prepare or cause to be prepared another draft scheme.
(2) After the draft scheme is approved by the District Land Improvement
Committee, it shall be published in English, Hindi and Punjabi languages in the
Official Gazette and also in the prescribed manner in every village and at the
headquarters of the tehsil and district in which the lands included in the scheme are
situated, and a copy thereof s hall be affixed in the offices of the Panchayat, Panchayat
Samiti and Zila Parishad concerned.
(3)As soon as the draft scheme is approved, the District Land Improvement
Committee shall, appoint a person to be an Enquiry Officer.
8. The District Land Improvement Committee shall simultaneously with the
publication of the draft scheme in the Official Gazette require all persons affected by
the scheme to make, within thirty days of such publication , any objections to the
scheme or par t thereof to the Enquiry Officer either in writing or by appearing
personally before him.
Approval
and
publication
of schemes.
Objections
to
Schemes.
9. The Enquiry Officer shall inquire into the objections received by him and
submit them to the District Land Improvement Comm ittee together with his report and
recommendations thereon.
10.After considering the objections and the report and recommendations of the
Enquiry Officer thereon and any further report which the District Land Improvement
Committee may require from him, the District Land Improvement Committee may
sanction the scheme, with or without modification or reject it:
Provided that the District Land Improvement Committee shall not sanction the
scheme if the majority of the owners of the land included in the scheme, other than the
Government, or the owners, other than the Government, owning in the aggregate more
than fifty per centum of the land included in the scheme have objected to the making of
the scheme.
11. The Scheme as sanctioned under section 10 shall be published in the same
manner as is provided in sub -section (2) of section 7 and on such publication shall be
deemed to be final and shall come into force from the date of such publication in th e
Official Gazette.
12. For the purpose of carrying out a scheme which has come into force under
section 11, the District Land Improvement Committee may, with the prior approval of
the State Government, make regulations requiring any person or persons or the public
generally to take certain action or to refrain from doing certain acts in respect of any
matter included in the scheme or which may be supplementary or incidental to the
scheme.
Enquiry into
objections
and report.
Publication
of final
scheme.
Sanctioning
of final
scheme.
Power of
District land
Improvement
Committees
to make
regulations.
CHAPTER III
EXECUTION OF SCHEMES
13. When a scheme comes into force under section 11, the Soil Conservation
Officer shall proceed to execute the scheme.
14.(1) Every landowner affected by a scheme shall, unless he himself carries out
the works apportioned to him, be liable to pay the cost with interest thereon of such
works in proportion to the area of land owned by him which has been included in the
scheme.
(2) If any landowner desires to carry out the works himself under the technical
guidance of the Soil Conservation Officer, the landowner shall give notice in writing to
that effect to the Soil Conservation Officer within thirty days of the publication of the
scheme in the Official Gazette under section 11.
(3) On receipt of such notice , the Soil Conservation Officer shall inform the
landowner about the works which are to be carried out on his land and shall fix the date
before which the landowner shall carry out the works.
(4) If the landowner fails to carry out any of such works to the satisfaction of the
Soil Conservation Officer, or express his inability to do so in writing, before the date
fixed for completion of the works, the Soil Conse rvation Officer may himself cause the
works to be carried out and recover the expenses incurred for the purpose with interest
thereon from the landowner in such manner as may be prescribed.
Soil
Conservation
Officer to
execute the
scheme.
Power to
carry out
works under
the scheme.
1[14-A (1) Where –
(a) the Depart ment intends to lay underground
pipeline or repair or renovation, as the case may
be, of existing underground pipeline through
holding of any other land holders for the purpose
of irrigation; or
(b) a farmer or a group of farmers intend to lay an underground
pipeline or repair or renovation, as the case may be, of existing
pipeline through the holding of any other land owner for the
purpose of irrigation on his holding or as the case may be, thei r
holdings; and
the matter is not settled by mutual agreement, then the District
Level Committee may, by order, allow the Department or the
farmer or the group of farmers, as the case may be, to lay pipeline
or repair or renovation, as the case may be, of existing pipeline, at
least three feet beneath the surface of the land along the demarcated
line on payment of such compensation arising out of crop damage
or damage to any structure to the land owner. The District Level
Committee shall determine th e amount of compensation to be paid
as per prevalent market prices to the land holder through whose
land the pipeline is to be laid or repaired or renovated and its
decision shall be binding upon all the parties.
(2) The Department or the farmer or the group of farmers, as the case may
be, shall submit a written application to the District Level Committee detailing the land
owner/s details through which the pipeline shall be laid or repaired or renovated and
1 Added by Punjab Act no.25 of 2017 ,section 2
Laying of
underground
pipeline or repair of
renovation of
existing
underground
pipeline.
line demarcated for laying of pi peline alongwith the damage as shall be caused to crop
or any structure that is in way of demarcated line.
(3) The Department or the farmer or the group of farmers, as the case may
be, permitted to avail any of the facilities referred to in sub-section (1) shall not, by
virtue of the said facility, acquire any other right in the holding through which such
facility is granted.
(4) The Department or the farmer or the group of farmers, as the case may be,
to whom such facility is granted, shall also ensure that the land be restored up to the
satisfaction of the land holder after laying of underground pipeline.
14-B. (1) In every district, there shall be constituted a committee to be called the
District Level Committee for granting compensation , to the Department or the farmer
or the group of farmers , as the case may be , consisting of the following , namely: -
(i) Deputy Commissioner Chairman
(ii) Divisional Soil Conservation Officer Convener
(iii) District Revenue Officer Member
(iv) Executive Engineer, Public Member
Works Department (B&R)
(v) Divisional Forest Officer Member
(2) The Convener shall convene the meeting of the District Level Committee
on receipt of request to lay underground pipeline or repair or renovation, as the case
may be, of existing pipeline.
(3) Four member including the Chairman and the Convener shall form the
quorum for a meeting of the District Level Committee.
(4) All questions before the District Level Committee shall be decided
according to the opinion of the majority of members present and voting. In the case of
Constitution
of District
Level
Committees.
equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.]
15. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 14, the State Government may,
in the case of any scheme which has come into force under section 11, direct that any
work under the scheme may, in public interest, be carried out by the State Government
and that the cost of such work with interest thereon shall be recovered in whole or in
part from the land owners in proportion to the area owned by ea ch landowner which
has been included in the scheme.
CHAPTER IV
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND USE OF WORKS CARRIED
OUT UNDER SCHEMES.
16. (1) The Soil Conservation Officer shall, on completion of the works under a
scheme, prepare a statement in the prescribed form giving the following particulars,
namely:
(i) name of the landowners ,including the Government ,and Khasra numbers of the land
included in the scheme;
(ii) the works carried out under the scheme together with a map thereof;
(iii) the total cost of such works;
(iv) the rate of recovery of cost per acre;
(v) the amoun t to be recovered from the land owners, the period within which such
amount is recoverable and the number of instalments of recovery;
Power to
State
Government
to carry out
schemes.
Preparation
of statement.
(vi) the works wh ich, in the opinion of the Soil Conservation Officer, should be
maintained and repaired by landowners individually or jointly and the name of such
landowners; and
(vii) such other matters as may be prescribed.
(2) A copy of the statement shall be sent to the Revenue Department for recovery in
the manner prescribed.
(3) When a statement is prepared under this section, any rights and liabilities shown
therein shall be entered in the record of rights or where there is no record of rights in
such village record and in such manner as may be prescribed and shall thereupon form
part of such record of right or such village record.
17. (1) Every person shown in the statement prepared under section 16 as liable to
maintain and repair works shall maintain it to the satisfaction of the Soil Conservation
Officer and shall, within such time as the Soil Conservation Officer may fix, repair the
works in his own land or in any other land in respect of which h e is shown as liable in
that statement.
(2) If such person fails to maintain the works to the satisfaction of the Soil
Conservation Officer or fails to repair them within the time fixed by the Soil
Conservation Officer under sub - section (1), the Soil Conservation Officer shall
himself maintain the work or get them repaired and recover the cost thereof with
interest thereon from such person.
(3) If the Soil Conservation Officer is of the opinion that an emergency has arisen
and immediate repair of any works referred to in sub -section (1) is necessary in public
interest, he shall cause such repairs to be carried out and the cost of such repairs with
interest thereon shall be paid by the landowner or landowners concerned.
Obligation of
persons to
maintain and
repair works.
(4) The Soil Conservat ion Officer shall, as soon as practicable, report to the State
Government regarding such repairs.
18. Any dispute as to the execution of works under a scheme or the expenses
incurred on the works or their mai ntenance and repair as referred to in section 16 or
section 17 shall be decided by the Director whose decision shall be final.
19. All amounts payable to, or recoverable by , the State Government or the Soil
Conservation Officer under this Act may be recovered as if they were arrears of land
revenue.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS
20. Any person who does any act which causes damage to any of the works carried
out or maintained under any scheme which has come into force under section 11 shall,
on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
21. (1)Any Officer or authority empowered under this Act to make an inquiry shall
make the inquiry in the manner provided for holding a summary inquiry under the
Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, and all the provisions con tained in that Act, relating
to the holding of a summary inquiry, shall apply to an inquiry made under this Act.
(2) Such Officer or authority shall have the same powers for summoning and
enforcing the attendance of any person and examining on oat h and compelling the
Decision of
disputes
relating to
works.
Amounts to
be
recovered.
Penalty.
Inquiries to
be held
summarily.
production of documents as are vested in the Revenue Officers under the Punjab Land
Revenue Act, 1887.
22. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law fo r the time being in force,
it shall be lawful for a landowner, whose land is included in a scheme, to enhance the
rent payable by a tenant of such land by such amount, in such manner and subject to
such conditions as may be prescribed.
23. ( 1) Nothing in the Indian Registration Act, 1908, shall be deemed to require the
registration of any document, plan or map prepared, made or sanctioned in connection
with a scheme which has come into force under section 11.
(2) All such documents, plans and maps shall, for the purpose of sections 48 and
49 of Indian Registration Act, 1908, be deemed to be registered in accordance with
provisions of that Act.
24. If the State Government is satisfied upon an application made by a Di strict Land
Improvement Committee that it is necessary to revoke a scheme or a part thereof or if
the State Government is satisfied that a scheme or a part thereof is against public
interest, it may, by notification, revoke the scheme or a part thereof, as the case may
be, and upon such revocation, the provisions of this Act, except section 19, shall cease
to apply to such scheme or a part thereof.
Permission to
increase rent
on account of
improvements
effected.
Registration
of
documents,
plans or
maps in
connection
with
schemes not
required.
Power to
revoke
schemes.
25. Documents, plans and maps relating to a scheme shall be open for public inspection
at the office of every Tahsildar for the area in respect of which a scheme has been
prepared at any time during office hours and certified copies thereof may be obtained
on payment of the prescribed fee.
26. The State Government, and, subject to the control of the State Government, the
Soil Conservation Officer, may, by notification, direct that any power exercisable by it
or him under this Act shall, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions, if
any, as may be specified in the notification, be exercisable also by such Officer or
authority subordinate to the State Government or the Soil Co nservation Officer, as the
case may be, as may be specified in the notification.
27. The Soil Conservation Officer, the Enquiry Officer or any other Officer,
exercising any power or performing any function unde r this Act, shall be deemed to be
a public servant within the meaning of section 21of the Indian Penal Code.
28. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person
deemed to be a public servant under section 27 in respect of anything which is in good
faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder.
29. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the
Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900.
Inspections
of
documents,
etc., and
obtaining
of copies.
Delegation
Certain
Officers to
be public
servants.
Protection
of acts
done in
good faith.
Application
of Punjab Act
2 of 1900 not
barred.
30. (1) The State Government may , by notification and after previous publication,
make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,
such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: -
(a) the manner in which the draft scheme under section 5 shall be prepared and
the other matters and particulars, which may be included therein;
(b) the manner in which a scheme shall be published under sub -section (2) of
section 7;
(c) the manner in which the expenses incurred in carrying out the works under
sub-section (4) of section 14 may be recovered;
(d) the form in which the statement under section 16 shall be prepared and the
manner in which the amounts mentioned therein may be recovered;
(e) the scale of fees for obtaining certified copies of documents , plans and maps
relating to a scheme; and
(f) all other matters allowed or required by this Act to be prescribed.
(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is
made before 1[* * *] the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of ten
days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if
before the expiry of the session in which it is laid or the session immediately following,
2[the Legislature] agree in making a ny modification in the rule or 3[the Legislature]
agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such
modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however, that any such
1 The words "each House of "omitted by the Adaption of Punjab Laws Order, 1970.
2 Substituted for the words “both Houses” by ibid
3 Substituted for the words “both Houses” by ibid.
Power to
make rules.
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the val idity of anything
previously done under that rule.