LexThe west bengal estates acquisition act, 1953
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West Bengal Act I of 1954
THE WEST BENGAL ESTATES ACQUISITION ACT, 1953.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Preliminary.
Sections.
1. Short title and extent.
2. Definitions.
3. Act to override other laws, etc.
CHAPTER II.
Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.
4. Notification vesting estates and rights of intermediaries.
5. Effect of notification.
5A. Restriction on certain transfers.
5B. Estate or tenure not liable to be sold under Act XI of 1859, Cooch Behar Act V of 1897,
Bengal Regulation VIII of 1819 and Act VIIIof 1885.
6. Right of intermediary to retain certain lands.
7. Arrears of land revenue, cases, taxes and impositions due from any intermediary.
8. Arrears of rent due to an intermediary and decrees for such arrears.
9. Option to have arrears collected through the State Government on certain conditions.
10. Collector to take charge of estates and rights of intermediaries vested in the State.
11. Penalty or non-compliance of Collector’s order.
12. Payment of ad interim compensation.
13. Management of estates and interests of intermediaries vested in the State.
CHAPTER III.
Assessment and payment of compensation.
14. Preparation of Compensation Assessment Roll.
15. Filing and disposal of objections to Compensation Assessment Roll prepared under section,
and preparation of roll in respect of intermediaries having interests in more than one area.
15A. Filing and disposal of objections to Compensation Assessment Roll prepared under sub-
section (5) of section 15.
16. Gross income and net income.
17. Assessment of compensation.
18. (Omitted).
19. Contents of the order of Compensation Officer.
20. Appeals.
21. Final publication of the Compensation Assessment Roll.
22. Correction of bona fide mistakes.
23. Manner of payment of compensation.
24. Compensation due to persons incompetent to alienate.
25. Certain restrictions as to amounts payable as compensation.
26. Extent of recovery of compensation money by attachment.
4
CHAPTER IV.
Mines and Minerals.
27. Provisions of Chapter IV to override other provisions of the Act.
28. Right of intermediaries directly working mines.
29. Subsisting leases of mines or minerals.
30. Provision for lands comprised on works, buildings , etc.
31. Compensation Officer to prepare Compensation Assessment Roll for mines and minerals
for three classes of intermediaries.
32. Determination of compensation for intermediaries referred to in section 31 (1)(a).
33. Determination of compensation for intermediaries referred to in section 31 (1) (b).
34. Determination of compensation for intermediaries referred to in section 31 (1) (c ).
35. Reference to Mines Tribunal.
36. Mines Tribunal.
37. Appeal against orders of the Tribunal.
38. Payment of compensation for mines.
CHAPTER V.
Preparation of record – of- rights.
39. Preparation of record-of-rights.
40. Raiyat paying rent in kind,etc.
41. Raiyat or under –tenant holding land free of rent.
42. Intermediary liable to pay rent.
42A Determination of rent after draft or final publication of record-of-rights.
43. Effect of rents settled under this Chapter
44. Draft and final publication of the record-of-rights.
45. Correction of bona fide mistakes in record-of-rights.
45A Correction of entry in record-of-rights
46. (Omitted).
47. Modification of the finally published record-of-rights.
48. Costs of preparation of record-of-rights.
CHAPTER VI.
Acquisition of interests of raiyats and under –raiyats.
49. When this chapter is to come into force.
50. (Omitted).
51. (Omitted).
52. Application of Chapters II, III, V and VII to raiyats and under-raiyats.
CHAPTER VII.
Supplement and Miscellaneous.
53. Authorities for the purposes of this Act.
54. Delegation of powers by the State Government and powers and duties of the authorities.
55. Appointment of Special Judges and tribunals.
55A. Limitation.
56. Power to enter upon land, to make survey, etc.
57. Power to compel production of statements and documents and to enforce attendance of
witnesses.
57A. Power of State Government to invest certain authorities with powers ofa Civivl Court.
57B. Bar to jurisdiction of Civil Court in respect of certain matters.
58. Protection of action taken under the Act.
59. Power to make rules.
CHAPTER VIII
Application of the Act to transferred territoties.
60. When this Chapter is to come into force.
61. Application of the Act to transferred territories.
5
© West Bengal Act I of 1954.
THE WEST BENGAL ESTATS ACQUISITION
ACT, 19532
(As modified up to the 1st January , 1999.)
[12th February , 1954.]
An Act to provide for the State acquisition of estates, of rights of intermediaries therein and of certain
Rights of raiyats and under raiyats
3 [and of the rights of certain persons in lands comprised in estates.]
It is hereby enacted as follows:-
CHAPTER I.
Preliminary.
Short title 1. (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953.
And extent.
West Ben. Act (2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal except the areas described in
XXXIII of 1951. Schedule I of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, as deemed to have been amended
Under section 594 of that Act.
1In terms of the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3 read with Schedule III of the West
Bengal Tansferred Territories (Assimilation of Laws) Act, 1958 (West Ben. Act XIX of 1958), this Act
shall not extend to, or force in, the territories transferred from the State of Bihar to the State of West
Bengal (Transfer of Territories ) Act, 1956 (XL of 1956).
This Act exended to Chandernagore with effect from the appointed date under section 8 of the
Chandernagore (Assimilation of Laws) Act, 1955 (West Ben. Act IV of 1956).
2LEGISLATIVE PAPERS.--- For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see the Calcutta Gazette,
Extraordinary, dated the 5th May, 1953, Part IV A, page 609; for Report of the Joint Select Committee,
see the Calcutta Gazette, Extraordinary, dated the 12th November, 1953 , Part IV A< pages 1275 –
1314; for the proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, see the Official Report of the
West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Vol. VII, No. 3, pages 1047, 1110-1147, Vol.VIII,pages 95-
135,178-218, 433-466, 486-501,529-52, 577-648,684-756,775-846,890-952,996-1102; and for the
proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Council, see the Official Report of the West Bengal
Legislative Council, Vol, III, pages 194-252 and 258-316.
3These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 2 of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1961 (West Ben. Act IX of 1961).
6
Page…2
( Chapter I. Preliminary.--- Section 2.)
Definitions. 2. In this unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-----
(a) “agricultural year” means the Bengali year commencing on the first day of Baisakh.
(b) “agricultural land” means land ordinarily used for purposes of agriculture or horticulture
and includes such land, notwithstanding that it may be lying fallow for the time being;
(c) “charitable purpose” includes the relief of the poor, medical relief or the advancement of
education or of any other object of general public utility.
(d) “Collector” means the Collector of a disctirct or any other officer appointed by the
State Government to discharge any of the functions of the Collector under this Act;
(e) “date of vesting” means the date mentioned in the notification under sub-section (1) of
section 4;
(f) “estate” or “tenure” includes part of an estate or part of a tenure;
1(ff) * * * * *
(g) “homestead” means a dwelling house together with ----
any courtyard, compound, garden, out-house, place of worship, family, grave-yard,
library , office, guest-house, tanks, wells privies, larines, drains and boundary walls
annexed to or appertaining to such dwelling house ;
(h) “incumbrance” in relation to estates and rights of intermediaries therein dos not include
the the rights of a raiyat or of an under –raiyat or ofa non-agricultural tenant 2[ but shall,
except in the case of land allowed to be retained by an intermediary under the provisions
of section 6, include all rights or interests of whatever nature, belonging to intermediaries
or other persons , which relate to lands comprised in estates or to the produce thereof];
1Clause (ff) , which was inserted with retrospective effect by s. 2 of the west Bengal Estates
Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1955 (West Ben. Act XXXV of 1955), was omitted with retrospective
effect by s.2(1) of the west Bengal Acquisition (Amendment) act 1957 (West Ben Act IV of 1957).
2These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 2(a) of
the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1957 (West Ben. Act XXV of 1957)
7
Pasge …3
( Chapter I. ---Peliminary .--- Section 2.)
1(i) “ intermediary” means a proprietor, tenure-holder, under-tenure-holder or any other
intermediary above a raiyat or a non-agricultural tenant and includes a service tenure-holder and, in
elation to mines and minerals, includes a lessee and a sub-lessee;
(j) “non-agricultural land” means land other than agricultural land
2[or other than land
comprised in a forest];
(k) “non –agricultural tenant” means a tenant on non-agricultural land who holds under a
proprietor, a tenure-holder 3[, a service tenure-holder] or an under –tenure-holder;
(l) “notified area” means a district or part of a district in respect of which a notification
has been duly published under section 4;
(m) “prescribed “ means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(n) “religious purpose” means a purpose connected with religious worship, teaching or
service or any performance of religious rites;
(o) “rent” means whatever is lawfully payable or deliverable in money or kind or both, by a
tenant to his landlord, on account of the use or occupation of the land held by the tenant
and includes also money revoverable under any enactment for the time being in force as
if it was rent;
VIII of 1885. (p) expressions used in this Act and not otherwise defined have in relation to the areas to
which the Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885, applies, the same meaning as in that Act and in relation
to other areas meaning as similar thereto as the existing law relating to land tenures applying
to such areas, permits.
1Clause (i) was substituted for the original clause with restrospective effect by s.2(2) of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act , 1957 (West Ben. Act IV of 1957).
2These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s.2(b) of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Second amendment) Act, 1957 (West Ben. Act XXV of 1957).
3These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s.2 of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition ( Amendment ) Act, 1960 (West Ben. Act XVII of 1960).
8
Page …4.
(Chapter I. Preliminary. – Section 3. Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of
intermediaties therein . –Section 4.)
Act override 3. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary
Other laws etc. contained in any other law or in any contract express or implied or in any instrument and
notwithstanding any usage or custom to the contrary.
1Provided that nothing in this Act shall apply to any land held by a Corporation, not
being a local authority or a company, established by or under any law for the time
being it force :
1Provided further that nothing in this Act shall affect any land possession of which was
taken by the state Government 2[ before the date mentioned in the notification issued
under section 4,] in furtherance of any proposal for acquiring such land , whether any
formal proceedings for such acquisition such were started or not, and proceedings for
acquisition of such land may be continued or commenced as if this Act has not been
passed.
CHAPTER II.
Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.
Notification vesting 4. (1) The State Government may from time to time by norification declare that
Estates and rights of with effect from the date mentioned in the norification , all estaes. And the
intermediaries rights of every intermediary in each such estate situated in any district or part
of a district specified in the notification , shall vest in the state free from all
incumbrances.
(2) The date mentioned in every such notification shall be the commencement of an
agricultural year; and the notification shall be issued so as to ensure that the whole area to
which this Act extends.vests in the state on or before the 1
st day of Baisakh of the Bengali
year 1362.
(3) Every such notification shall be published in the first instance, in at least two issues
of each of two newspapers (one of which must be in the Bengal Language) circulating
in West Bengal and also by affixing at eaqch police-station and sub-registry office
within the district or part of the district, specified in the notification and by beat of
drums and in any other manner, if nay , as may be prescribed.
(4) When the State Government is satisfied that the notification has been published in
the first instance as required under sub-section (3), it shall issue the notification in the
Official Gazette.
1These provisos were added with retrospective effect bys. 3 of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1960 (West Ben. Act XVII of 1960).
2These words and figure within the square brackets were substituted with
retrospective effect for the words and figure “before the issue of a notification under section
4,” by s.2 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1961 (West
Ben. Act XIX of 1961).
9
Page…5.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.—Section 5).
(5) The publication of the notification in the Official Gazette shall be conclusive evidence
that all requirements relating to publication in the first instance as mentioned in sub-
section (3) have been complied with and also of the due publication of the notification
and of notice to all persons affected by the notification.
1(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the fogegoing sub-sections , an intermediary
may, at any time before the 15th day of February, 1955, apply to the State Government to
have all his estates, tenures, under-tenures and other rights as intermediary, to be vested in
the state and the State Government may, after considering the facts and circumstances of the
case, if it thinks fit, make an order granting the application. Upon the oder being made, all
such estates, tenures, under –tenures and rights of the intermediary, shall vest in the State
Government on and from the date of the order, free from all incumbrances (other than the
rights of subordinate intermediaries, if any) and the provisions of this Act, expect the
foregoing sub-sections and clauses (a) (b) of section 5, shall with necessary modifications ,
apply as if , in relation to such estates, tenures, under –tenures and rights of the intermediary,
references to the publication of a notification under section 4 or to the date of vesting were
references to the order granting the application or to the date of such order, and references to
the vesting under section 5 were references to the vesting under this sub-section . The State
Government shall have also power to make such other orders for giving effect to the
provisions of this sub-section as it deems necessary.
Effect of 5.
2[(1)] Upon the due publication of a notification under section 4, on and from the
notification date of vesting---
(a) the estates and the rights of intermediaries in the estates, to which the
declaration applies, shall vest in the state free from all incumbrances; in
particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this
clause, every one of the following rights which may be owned by an
intermediary shall vest in the State, namely:-
(i) rights in sub-soil, including rights in mines and mirerals ,
i.(ii) rights in hats, bazaars, ferries,
3 * fisheries, tools and other sairati interests;
1Sub-section (6) was substituted for the original sub-section bys. 2 of the West Bengal estates
Acquisition (Second amendment) act. 1954 (West Ben Act XXVIII of 1954).
2Section 5 was re-numbered as sub-section (1) that section by s. 2 of the West Bengal Estates
Acquisition Act, 1964 (West Ben. Act XXII of 1964).
3The word “forest “ was omitted with retrospective effect by s. 3(a) of the West Bengal estates
Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1975 (West Ben. Act XXV of 1975).
10
Page …..6.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.--- Section 5.)
1(aa) all lands in any estate comprised in a forest together with all rights to the trees therein or to
the produce thereof and held by an intermediary or any other person shall held by an
intermediary or any other person shall
2 * * * * vest in the State;
(b). all grants of and confirmation of titles to, estates and rights therein , to which the declaration
applies and which were made in favour of intermediaries shall determine;
(b) 3[4 (subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 6, every non-
agricultural tenant holding any land) under an intermediary, and until the
provisions of Chapter VI are given effect to, every raiyat holding any land
under an intermediary], shall hold the same directly under the State , as if the
State had been the intermediary, ad on the same terms and conditions as
immediately before the date of vesting:
5Provided that if any non-agricultural tenant pays rent wholly king or partly in kind
and partly in cash, then, notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing
clause, he shall pay such rent as a Revenue Officer specially empowered by the
State Government in this behalf may detemine in the prescribed manner and in
accordance with the principle laid dpwn in clause (ii) of section 42:
5Provided further that any person aggrieved by an order passed by the revenue
Officer determining rent under the first proviso may appeal to such authority and
within such time as may be pescribed;
(c)
6[every non-agricultural tenant holding under an intermediary and until the
provisions of Chapter VI are given effect to, every raiyat holding under an
intermediary,] shall be bound
1Clause (aa) was inserted with retrospective effect by s. 3(b) of the West Bengal Estates
Acquisiton (Second Amendment) Act, 1957 (West Ben. Act XXV of 1957).
2The words” notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any judgement, decree
or order of any court or Tribunal,” were omitted by s.2(a) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Act 1977 (West Ben. Act XXXVI of 1977).
3These words within square brackets were substituted with retrospective effect for the words
“until the provisions of Chapter VI are given effect to every raiyat or non-agricultural tenant, holding
any land under an intermediary” by s. 3(1) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment)
Act.1957 (West Ben. Act IV of 1957).
4Substituted with retrospective effect for the words “every non-agricultural tenant holding
any land “ by s. 2(1) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1964 (West Ben. Act
XXII of 1963).
5 These provisos were added by s. 2 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendent)
Act, 1963 (West Ben. Act XXII of 1963).
6These words within square brackets were substituted with retrospective effect for the
words “ every raiyat or non-agricultural tenant holding under an intermediary” by s. 3(2) of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendent ) Act, 1957, 1957 (West Ben. Act IV of 1957).
11
Page…..7
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.- Section 5A.)
to pay to the State his rent and other dues in respect of his land, accruing on and from the
date of vesting , and every payment made in contravention of this clause shall be void and
of no effect.
1(2) For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that notwithsatanding anything to the contrary
contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court or Tribunal or in any other law, rights and
interests in munes and minerals of all intermediaies, being lessees and sub-lessees, in any notified are
shall be deemed to have vested in the State with effect from the date of vesting mentioned in the
notification under section 4 in respect of such notified area.
2 (30 It is further declared that notwithstansing anything to the contrary contained in any
judgment, decree or order of any court or Tribunal or in any other law, all lands in any estate
comprised in a forest with all rights to the trees or to the produce thereof as mentioned in cclause (aa)
of sub-section (1) in any notified area shall be deemed to have vested in the State with effect from the
date of vesting mentioned in the notification under section 4 in respect of that area.
Restriction
35A. (1) The State Government may after the date of vesting enquire into any case of
On certain transfer of ay land by an intermediary made between the 5 th day of May , 1953 Transfers. And the date
of transfer vesting , if in its opinion there are prima-facie reasons for believing
That such transfer was not bonafide.
(2) If after such enquiry the State Government finds that such transfer was not bonafide, it
shall make an order to that effect and thereupon the transfer shall stand cancelled as from the date on
which it was made or purported to have been made :
Provided that, subject to such cancellation , nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to
affect any rights which the transferor or the transferee may otherwise have against each other.
(3) If after such enquiry the State Government finds that the transfer was bonafide, it shall
make an order to that effect and thereupon the following consequences shall ensue, namely:-
(i) the land shall , without prejudice to any rights which the transferor or the transferee may
have against each other, be deemed to be the land of the transferee for the purpose of this Act;
1Sub-section (2) was added by s. 2(2) of the West Benal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment)Act, 1977 (West Ben. Act XIIIof 1964). See also foot-note 2 on page 5, ante.
2Sub-section (3) was inserted by s. (b) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment)
Act, 1977 (West Ben. Act. XXXVI of 1977).
3Section 5A was inserted with retrospective effect by s. 2 of the West Bengal Estates
Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1954 (West Ben. Act XIII of 1954).
12
Page…..8.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein .-Section 5A).
(ii) if any such land or any part thereof is retained by the transferee under the provisions of this
Chapter, such land or such part there of may be taken into account in calculating the land
which may be retained by the transferor under this Chapter as if such land or such part thereof
had never been transferred and were retained by the transferor or chosen byn him as land to be
retained by him.
(4) The State Government may delegate
l all or any of its powers under this section to scuh officers
in its service as it may deem fit.
(2) The procedure to be followed in such entuiry shall be such as may be prescribed.
Provided that ---
(i) no order shall be passed in an enquiry held under his section except after giving the
transferee and the transferee an opportunity of being heard;
(ii) in conducting such enquiry the State Government and any officer to whom any powers
have been delegated under sub-section (4) shall have all the powers of a civil court for the
purposes of taking evidence, administering oaths, enforcing the attendance of witnesses and
Act V of compelling the production of documents and shall be deemed to be civil court within the
1898. meaning of sections 480, 481 and 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
(3) An appeal against any order passed by the State Government under sub-section (2) or sub-
section (3), or passed under any of those sub-sections as read with-section (4) by an officer
to whom powers have been delegated under sub-section (4), if preferred within sixty days of
such order
2[or within sixty days from the date of appointment of the Special Judge,
whichever is later], shall lie to a Special,Judge 3(being a person who is or has been a District
Judge of an Additional District Judge) 4appointed by the State Government for the purpose
of this section and such Special Judge shall dispose of the appeal according to the
prescribed procedure.
1For delegation of powers, see notification No. 6786L. Ref., dated the 9th April , 1956 of the
Land and Land Revenue Department , published in the Calcutta Gazette, Exraordinary of the 10thApril,
1956, Part I, page 750.
2These words within square brackets were inserted by s. 3(1) of the West Bengal Estates
Acquisition (Amendment) Act 1961 (West Ben. Act IX of 1961).
3These words within square brackets were substituted for the words “not being an Officer
below the rank of a District Judge” by s. 3(2) ibid.
4For notification relating to appointment of cetain Officer to be the Special Judges for the
purpose of section 5A of the Act in respect of the districts specified , see notification NO. 15354L.
Ref., dated 14.10.60, published in the Calcutta Gazette, Extraordinary of 1960, Part I , Page 2677.
13
Page…..9.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therin. –Section 5B.)
(4) In this section,----
(i) a transfer shall be held to be not bona fide if it was made principally or partially
with the object of increasing the amount of land which a person may retain under
this Chapter or principally or partially with the object of increasing the amountof
compensation payable under Chapter III or chapter IV;
(ii) a transfer in favour of one or more of the following relatives of the transferor
that is to say,--
a wife , a husband , a child , a grand-child, a parent, a grandparent, a brother, a sister ‘s son, a
daughter’s husband, a son’s wife, a wife’s brother or sister , ora brother’s wife.
Made between the 5
th day of Mat, 1953 and he date of vesting shall be presumed to be not
bona fide until the contrary is proved :
Provided that no such presumption shall be made in respect of transfer of land by an
intermediary if the aggregate area of such land owned by the intermediary at any time
between the 5
th day of May , 1953 and the date of transfer did not exceed twenty acres in
the case of non-agricultural land and twenty –five acres in extent in the case of
agricultural land;
(iii) ‘transfer’ means a tansfer by sale, mortgage, lease, exchange or gift;
(iv) ‘transferor’ and ‘transferee’ include the successors in interest of a transferor or a
transferee.
15B On and from the 1st day of June 1954, no estate, tenure or under-tenure shall be
liable to be sold under the Bengal Land Revenue Sales Act, 1859 or the Cooch Behar
Revenue Sales Act, 1897 or the Bengal Patni Taluks Regulation , 1819, or the Bengal
Tenancy Act 1885, under any of those Acts or that Regulation shall be deemed to have been
void and of no effect :
Provided that where by reason of the foregoing provision of this section, any estate, tenure
or under –tenure is not sold, or whee such sale is void and of no effect, the arrears for which
the estate, tenure or under-tenure would have been sold or wee sold, shall notwithstanding
anything
1Section 5B was inserted with retrospective effect from the 1st day of June , 1954 by s. 3 of
the West Bengal estates Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1954 (West Ben. Act XXVIII pf
1954).
XI of 1859.
CoochBehar
Act V of 1897.
Ben.Regn.VIII
Of 1819.
Estate or tenure
Not liable to be
sold under ActXI
of 1859, Cooch
Behar Act V of
1897, Bengal
Regulation VIII of
1819 and Act
VIIIof 1885
14
Page……10.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaties therein. – Section 6.)
to the contrary in any other law, bear simple interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum from
the date on which they become or became payable or from which the sale is deemed to have been
void and of no effect, as the case may be up to the date immediately preceding the date of vesting
of such estate, tenure or under-tenure.
Right of 6. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 4 and 5, an intermediary shall, except
Interme- in the cases mentioned in the proviso to sub-section (2) but subject to the other provi-
Diary to sion of that sub-section, be entitled t retain with effect from the date of vesting--
Retain
certain
Lands.
(a) land comprised in homesteads;
(b) land comprised in or appertaining to buildings and structures 1[owned by the intermediary or
by any person, not being a tenant ,holding under him by leave or licese];
2Explanation. – For the purposes of this clause ‘tenant’ shall not include a
thika tenant as defined in the Calcutta thika Tenancy act, 1949; West Ben
Act II of 1949.
(c) non-agricultural land in his khas possession
3[including land held under him by any person , not
being a genant, by leave or license], not exceeding fifteen acres in area, and excluding any land retained
under clause (a):
Provided that the total area of land retained by an intermediary under cclauses (a) and (c) shall not
exceed twenty acres, as may be chosen by him:
Provided further that if the land retained by an intermediary under clause (c) or any part thereof is not
utilised for a period of five consecutive years from the date of vesting, for a gainful or productive
purpose, the land or the part thereof may be resumed by the State Government subject to payment of
compensation detemined in accordance with the principles laid down in sections 23 and 24 of the land
Acquisition Act, 1894; I of 1894.
(d) agricultural land in his khas possession, not exceeding twety-five acres in area , as may be chosen by
him:
1These words within square brackets were substituted with retrospective effect for the words,
“whether erected by the intermediary or not” by s. 4(1)(a) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Act, 1961 (West Ben. Act IX of 1961).
2This explanation was added with retrospective effect by s. 4(1)(b) , ibid.
3These words within square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 4(1) (c), ibid.
15
Page…..11.
(Chapter II. – Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaties therein.- Section 6.)
1 Provided that in such portions of the district of Darjeeling as may be declared by 2notification by the
State Government to be hilly portions, as intermediary shall be entitled to retain all agricultural land in
His khas possession , or any part thereof as may be chosen by him;
(e) tank fisheries ;
Explanation.—“tank fishery” means a reservoir or place for the storage of water, whether formed
naturally or by excavation or by construction of embankments, which is being used for pisciculture or for
fishing, together with the sub-soil and the banks as ae included in a homestead such portion of the banks
as ae included in a homestead or in a garden or orchard and includes any right of pisciculture or fishing
In such reservoir or place;
(f)
3[subject to the provisions of sub-section (3),] land comprised in tea gardens or orchards or land used
for the purpose of livestock breeding, poultry farming or dairy;
(g) 4[subject to the provisions of sub-section (3),] land comprised in mills, factories, or workshop;
(h) where the intermediary is a local authority,-- held 5 * * * * * by such authority ,
notwithstanding such land or any part thereof may have been let out by such authority :
6Provided that where any land which has been let out by any local authority is retained by such
authority under this clause, no person holding such land shall have any right or occupancy therein, and
every such person shall be bound to deliver possession of the land to the local authority when required by
it for its purposes ;
1This proviso was substituted with retrospective effect for the original proviso by s.3(1) (a) of the
West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1955 (West Ben. Act XXXV of 1955).
2For notification declaring the areas comprised in the Sadar, Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-
divisions of the district of Darjeeling to be hilly portions for the purposes of the proviso to clause (d) of
sub-section (1) of section 6 of the Act, see Notification No. 7348L.Ref.,dated 17.4.56, published in the
Calcutta gazette of 1956 , part I, page 1543.
3These words ,brackets and figure within square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect
by s. 3(1)(b) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1955(West Ben. Act XXXV of
1955).
4The words brackets and figure within square brackets wee inserted with retrospective effect by s.
3(1)(c),ibid.
5The words “in khas for public purpose” were omitted with retrospective effect by s. 4 (1) of the
West Bengal estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1960 (West Ben. Act XVII of 1960).
6Tis proviso was added with retrospective effect by s. 4(2), ibid.
16
Page…..12
.
(Chapter II. – Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.—Section 6.)
1(i) where the intermediary is a corporation or an institution established exclusively for a religious or a
charitable purpose or both, or is a person holding under a trust or an endowment or other legal obligation
exclusively for a purpose which is charitable or religious or both –land held in khas by such corporation
or institution , or person, for such purpose 2[including land held by any person, not being a tenant, by
leave or license of such Corporation or institution or person]
Ben.Act XXI (j) where the intermediary is a co-operative society registered or deemed to have been registered
Of 1940. under the Bengal Co-operative societies Act, 1040, or a company incorporated under the Indian
Companies Act, 19133, engaged exclusively in farming (and in business, if any, connected directly with
such farming),--agricultural land in the khas possession of the society or the company on the 1
st day of
VII of 1913. January, 1952, and chosen by the society or the company , not exceeding in area the number of acres
which persons, who were the members of the society or the company on such date, would have been
entitled to retain in the aggregate under clause (d) , if every such person wee an intermediary :
Provided that where any such person retains any land under clause (d) , such person retains any
land under clause (d), such person shall not be taken into account in calculating the aggregate area of the
land which the society or the company may retain.
4(k) so much of requisitioned land as the intermediary would be entitled to retain after taking into
consideration any other land which he may have retained under the other clasues;
Explanation.- ‘ requisitioned land’ means any land which was in the khas possession of the
intermediary and which was requisitioned by Government under provisions of any law for the time being
in force or was occupied by
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1This clause was substituted with retrospective effect for the original clause by s. 3(1)(d) of the West
Bengal estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1955 (West Ben. Act XXXV of 1955).
2These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 4(1) (d) of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act ,1961(West Ben. ActIX of 1961).
3The Indian Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 9131) was repealed and re-enacted by the Companies Act,
1956 (I of 1956).
4Clauses (k) and (I) were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 3(1) of the west Benal estates
Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1961 (West Ben. Act XIX of 1961).
17
Page…..13.
(Chapter II. – Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein .—Section 6.)
Government in pursuance of rule 49 of the defence of India rules and continued t be subject to
requisition or occupation on the date mentioned in the notification issued under section 4;
1(1) so much of land in the unauthorised occupation of refugees from East Bengal immediately before
the date of vesting as an intermediary would be entitled to retain after taking into considertation
any other land which he may have retained under the other clauses;
Explanation.--- ‘Refugees from East Bengal’ includes those who are displaced persons within the
West Ben. meaning of the Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons and Eviction of Persons in Unauthorised Act
XVI of 1951. Occupation of Land Act, 1951.
2Exception.— 3[Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (3), nothing in this sub-section ]
shall entitle an intermediary 4[or any other person] to retain any land comprised in a forest 5[or any
embankment as defined in the Bengal Embankement Act,1882, the proper maintenance of which
should , in the opinion of the State Government , be taken over by the State Government in the
public interest.]
Ben. Act II
Of 1882.
(2) An intermediary who is entitled to retain possession of any land under sub-section (1) shall be deemed
to hold such land directly under the State from the date of vesting as a tenant, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be prescribed and subject to payment of swuch rent as may be determined under the
provisions of this Act and as entered in the record-of-rights finally published under Chapter V except that no
rent shall be payable for land regferred to in clause (h) or (i) :
Provided that if any tank fishery or any land comprised in a tea-garden , orchard, mill, factory or
workshop was held immediately before the date of vesting under a lese, scuh lease shall be deemed to have been
given by the state Government on the same terms and conditions as immediately before such date
6[subject to
such modification therein as the State Government may think fit to make.]
1 See foot-note 4 on page 12, ante.
2This paragraph was added with retrospective effect by s. 3 (1) (e) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment)Act,1955 (West Ben. Act XXXV of 1955).
3Substituted with retrospective effect for the words “Nothing in this sub-section” by s. 3(1) of the West Bengal
Estate Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1963 (West Ben. Act XXII of 1963).
4These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 4(a) of the West Bengal
Estates Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1957 (West Ben. Act XXV of 1957).
5These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 4(1) (e) of the West
Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1961(West Ben. Act IX of 91612).
6These words within the square brackets were inserted with retrospective effect by s. 4(2), ibid.
18
Page …….. 14.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein. – Section 6.)
1(3) In the case of land comprised in a tea-garden, mill factory or workshop the intermediary, or where the
land us held under a lease, the lessee, shall be entitled to retain only so much of such land as, in the opinion of the
State Government, is required for the tea-garden, mill factory or workshop, as the case may be, and a person holding
under to be an intermediary :
2Provided that the State Government may, if it thinks fit so to do after reviewing the circumstances of a
case and after giving the intermediary or the lessee, as the case may be, an opportunity of being heard, revise any
order made by it under this sub-section specifying the land which the intermediary or the lessee shall be entitled to
retain as being requiredby him for the tea-garden, mill , factory ot workshop, as the case may be.
4Ex-planation.—In the case of land allowed to be retained by an intermediary or lessee in respect of a
tea-garden, such land may include any land comprised in a forest if, in the opinion of the State Government , the
land comprised in a forest is required for the tea-garden.
5 (3A) Land which may be retained under clause (k) or clause (1) of sub-section (1) shall, if necessary, be
demarcated in such manner a may be prescribed and shall be specified in an order made in this behalf by a Revenue
Officer specially empoweree for the purpose by the State Government.
West Ben.Ac t
5(3B) In executing any order for eviction of persons in unauthorised occupation of land in pursuance of
XVI of 1951. proceedings under the Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons and Eviction of Persons in Unauthorised Occupation
Of Land Act,1951 ,possession shall be given to the intermediary of only xso much of such land as he is entitled to
retain under clause (1) of sub-section (1) anmd possession of any land in excess thereof shall be given to the
Revenue Officer having jurisdiction over the area in which the land is situated.
5(3C) For the purpose of sub-section (3B) the officer or authority executing the order for eviction shall
ascertain from the Revenue Officer referred to in sub- section (3A) particulars of the land possession of which may
be given go the intermediaty.
VIII of 1885.
5(3D) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act or in the rules made there under, the provisions
Cooch Behar of the Bengal Tenancy Act 1885 or the Cooch Behar Tenancy Act, 1910 shall not apply in the case of
Act V of 1910. any land referred to in sub-section (2).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -
1Sub-section (3) was added with retrospective effect bys. 3(2) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Act,1955 (West Ben. Act XXXV of 1955).
2This proviso was added with retrospective effect by s..2 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Act. 1969 (West Ben. Act XXXI of 1969).
3This Explanation was added with retrospective effect by s. 4 of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Nact. 1957 (West Ben. Act IV of 1957).
4 This Exception ws added with retrospective effrect by s. 3(2) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition
(Amendment) Acy1963 (West Ben. Act XXII of 1963).
5Sub-section (3A) , (3B),(3C) and (3D) were inserted with retrospective effect by s.3(2) of the West
Bengal Acquisition (Second amendment ) Act. 1961 (West Ben. Act XIX of 9161).
19
Page. ….15.
(Chapter II. Acquisition of estates and of the rights of intermediaries therein.—Section 7.)
1(4) In the case of lands comprised in a forest 2[or in any embankment, referred in the Exception to sub-
section (1)] and held by a person other than an intermediary which vest in the State, such person shall, for the
purpose of assessment of Excerpt shown. Open the full act in Lexace.