The Cantonments Act, 2006
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Defence / Department of Defence
Section
Section 181 Paying patients.
Any sick person who is ineligible to receive medical or surgical treatment free of cost in any hospital or dispensary under section 180 may be admitted for treatment therein upon such terms as the Board thinks fit.
Section 182 Power to order person to attend hospital or dispensary.
(1) If the Health Officer or the Medical Officer in charge of a hospital or dispensary maintained or aided under section 178 has reason to believe that any person living in the cantonment is suffering from an infectious, communicable or contagious disease, he may, by notice in writing, call upon such person to attend for examination at any such hospital or dispensary at such time as may be specified in the notice and not to quit it without the permission of the Medical Officer in charge; and, on the arrival of such person at the hospital or dispensary, the Medical Officer in charge thereof may examine him for the purpose of satisfying himself whether or not such person is suffering from an infectious, communicable or contagious disease:
Provided that, if, having regard to the nature of the disease or the condition of the person suffering there from, or the general environment and circumstances of such person, the Health Officer or Medical Officer, as the case may be, considers that the attendance of such person at a hospital or dispensary is likely to prove unnecessary or inexpedient, he shall examine such person at such person's own residence.
(2) If any person on examination under sub-section (1), is found to be suffering from an infectious or contagious disease, the Health Officer or Medical Officer, as the case may be, may cause him to be detained in hospital until he is free from the infection or contagion:
Provided that, if having regard to the nature of the disease or the condition of the person suffering there from, or the general environment and circumstances of such person, he considers that the detention of such person at a hospital or dispensary is unnecessary or inexpedient, he shall discharge such person and take such measures or give such directions in the matter as he thinks necessary.
Provided that, if, having regard to the nature of the disease or the condition of the person suffering there from, or the general environment and circumstances of such person, the Health Officer or Medical Officer, as the case may be, considers that the attendance of such person at a hospital or dispensary is likely to prove unnecessary or inexpedient, he shall examine such person at such person's own residence.
(2) If any person on examination under sub-section (1), is found to be suffering from an infectious or contagious disease, the Health Officer or Medical Officer, as the case may be, may cause him to be detained in hospital until he is free from the infection or contagion:
Provided that, if having regard to the nature of the disease or the condition of the person suffering there from, or the general environment and circumstances of such person, he considers that the detention of such person at a hospital or dispensary is unnecessary or inexpedient, he shall discharge such person and take such measures or give such directions in the matter as he thinks necessary.
Section 183 Power to exclude from cantonment persons refusing to attend hospital or dispensary.
(1) If the Health Officer or the Medical Officer in charge of a hospital or dispensary maintained or aided under section 178 reports in writing to the Officer Commanding the station that any person having received a notice under section 182 has refused or omitted to attend at the hospital or dispensary, specified in the notice, or that such person, having attended the hospital or dispensary, has quitted it without the permission of such Medical Officer, or that any person has failed to comply with any direction given to him under section 182, the Officer Commanding the station may, by order in writing, direct such person to be removed from the cantonment within twenty-four hours and not to re-enter it without his permission in writing.
(2) No person who has under sub-section (1) been ordered to be removed from and not to re-enter a cantonment shall enter any other cantonment without the written permission of the Officer Commanding the station.
(2) No person who has under sub-section (1) been ordered to be removed from and not to re-enter a cantonment shall enter any other cantonment without the written permission of the Officer Commanding the station.
Section 184 Routes for pilgrims and others.
(1) A Board may provide or prescribe suitable routes for the use of persons assing through the cantonment--
(a) on their way to or from fairs or places of pilgrimage or other places of public resort; or
(b) during times when an infectious or contagious disease is prevalent, and may, by public notice, require such persons as aforesaid to use such routes and no others.
(2) All routes provided or prescribed under sub-section (1) shall be clearly and sufficiently indicated by the Board.
(a) on their way to or from fairs or places of pilgrimage or other places of public resort; or
(b) during times when an infectious or contagious disease is prevalent, and may, by public notice, require such persons as aforesaid to use such routes and no others.
(2) All routes provided or prescribed under sub-section (1) shall be clearly and sufficiently indicated by the Board.
Section 185 Conditions of service of Safai Karamcharis and others.
1[(1) No person employed in any essential service under a Board in a cantonment shall, in the absence of any contract, resign without reasonable cause or absent himself from duty without proper authority and in case of such resignation or absence from duty, disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated against him in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.]
(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that on and from such date as may be specified in the notification, the provisions of this section shall apply in the case of any specified class of employees employed by a Board whose functions intimately concern the public health or safety.
(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that on and from such date as may be specified in the notification, the provisions of this section shall apply in the case of any specified class of employees employed by a Board whose functions intimately concern the public health or safety.
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and Schedule for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 2-11-2023).
Section 186 Maintenance of water-supply.
(1) In every cantonment where a sufficient supply of potable water for domestic use does not exist, the Board shall provide or arrange for the provision of such a supply.
(2) The Board shall, as far as possible, make adequate provision that such supply shall be continuous throughout the year, and that the water shall be at all times fit for human consumption.
(3) It shall be the duty of every Board to practise and propagate the scientific methods of water harvesting including harvesting of rain water for use and make arrangement for recharging the sources of ground water including underground aquifers and to preserve rivers, streams, springs and other natural sources of water within and in the vicinity of the cantonment.
(2) The Board shall, as far as possible, make adequate provision that such supply shall be continuous throughout the year, and that the water shall be at all times fit for human consumption.
(3) It shall be the duty of every Board to practise and propagate the scientific methods of water harvesting including harvesting of rain water for use and make arrangement for recharging the sources of ground water including underground aquifers and to preserve rivers, streams, springs and other natural sources of water within and in the vicinity of the cantonment.
Section 187 Terms of water-supply.
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expression in relation to water supply shall have the respective meanings given below, namely:--
(1) "communication pipe" means:--
(a) where the premises supplied with water abut on the part of the street in which the main is laid, and the service pipe enters those premises otherwise than through the outer wall of a building abutting on the street and has a stopcock placed in those premises and as near to the boundary of that street as is reasonably practicable, so much of the service pipe as lies between the main and that stopcock;
(b) in any other case, so much of the service pipe as lies between the main and the boundary of the street in which the main is laid, and includes the ferrule at the junction of the service pipe with the main, and also,--
(i) where the communication pipe ends at in a stopcock, that stopcock, and
(ii) any stopcock fitted on the communication pipe between the end thereof and the main.
(2) "main" means a pipe laid by the Board for the purpose of giving a general supply of water as distinct from a supply to individual consumers and includes any apparatus used in connection with such a pipe.
(3) "service pipe" means so much of any pipe for supplying water from a main to any premises as is subject to water pressure from that main, or would be so subject but for the closing of some tap.
(4) "supply pipe" means so much of any service pipe as is not a communication pipe.
(5) "trunk main" means a main constructed for the purpose of conveying water from a source of supply to a filter or reservoir or from one filter or reservoir to another filter or reservoir, or for the purpose of conveying water in bulk from one part of the limits of supply to another part of those limits, or for the purpose of giving or taking a supply of water in bulk.
(6) "water fittings" includes pipes (other than mains), taps, cocks, valves, ferrules, meters, cisterns, baths and other similar apparatus used in connection with the supply and use of water.
(1) "communication pipe" means:--
(a) where the premises supplied with water abut on the part of the street in which the main is laid, and the service pipe enters those premises otherwise than through the outer wall of a building abutting on the street and has a stopcock placed in those premises and as near to the boundary of that street as is reasonably practicable, so much of the service pipe as lies between the main and that stopcock;
(b) in any other case, so much of the service pipe as lies between the main and the boundary of the street in which the main is laid, and includes the ferrule at the junction of the service pipe with the main, and also,--
(i) where the communication pipe ends at in a stopcock, that stopcock, and
(ii) any stopcock fitted on the communication pipe between the end thereof and the main.
(2) "main" means a pipe laid by the Board for the purpose of giving a general supply of water as distinct from a supply to individual consumers and includes any apparatus used in connection with such a pipe.
(3) "service pipe" means so much of any pipe for supplying water from a main to any premises as is subject to water pressure from that main, or would be so subject but for the closing of some tap.
(4) "supply pipe" means so much of any service pipe as is not a communication pipe.
(5) "trunk main" means a main constructed for the purpose of conveying water from a source of supply to a filter or reservoir or from one filter or reservoir to another filter or reservoir, or for the purpose of conveying water in bulk from one part of the limits of supply to another part of those limits, or for the purpose of giving or taking a supply of water in bulk.
(6) "water fittings" includes pipes (other than mains), taps, cocks, valves, ferrules, meters, cisterns, baths and other similar apparatus used in connection with the supply and use of water.
Section 188 Board to carry out survey and formulate proposals.
(1) The Board may, when so required,--
(a) carry out a survey of the existing consumption of and demand for water supplies in cantonment and of the water resources in or likely to be made available in the cantonment;
(b) prepare an estimate of the future water supply requirements of the cantonment;
(c) carry out a survey of the existing quantity of sewage collection;
(d) formulate proposals as to--
(i) the existing or future water supply requirements of the cantonment;
(ii) the existing or future sewage collection requirement in cantonment including proposals for the manner in which and the place or places at which sewage should be carried, collected and treated.
(2) If the Board is of the opinion that the works and other properties for the time being vested in the Board, are inadequate for the purpose of sufficient supply of water or for the purpose of efficient collection of sewage under this Act it may take steps in accordance with the provisions of this Act for the construction of additional works, whether within cantonment or outside the cantonment with the approval of the Principal Director and for the acquisition of additional properties for such works.
(a) carry out a survey of the existing consumption of and demand for water supplies in cantonment and of the water resources in or likely to be made available in the cantonment;
(b) prepare an estimate of the future water supply requirements of the cantonment;
(c) carry out a survey of the existing quantity of sewage collection;
(d) formulate proposals as to--
(i) the existing or future water supply requirements of the cantonment;
(ii) the existing or future sewage collection requirement in cantonment including proposals for the manner in which and the place or places at which sewage should be carried, collected and treated.
(2) If the Board is of the opinion that the works and other properties for the time being vested in the Board, are inadequate for the purpose of sufficient supply of water or for the purpose of efficient collection of sewage under this Act it may take steps in accordance with the provisions of this Act for the construction of additional works, whether within cantonment or outside the cantonment with the approval of the Principal Director and for the acquisition of additional properties for such works.
Section 189 Control over sources of public water-supply.
(1) The Board may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, by public notice, declare any lake, stream, spring, well, tank, reservoir or other source, whether within or without the limits of the cantonment other than a source of water-supply under the control and in use of the Military Engineer Services or the Public Works Department from which water is or may be made available for the use of the public in the cantonment to be source of public water-supply.
(2) Every such source shall be under the control of the Board and it shall be the duty of the Board to preserve and maintain such source.
(2) Every such source shall be under the control of the Board and it shall be the duty of the Board to preserve and maintain such source.
Section 190 Power to require maintenance or closing of private source of public drinking water-supply.
The Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the owner or any person having the control of any source of public water-supply which is used for drinking purposes--
(a) to keep the same in good order and to clear it from time to time of silt, refuse and decaying vegetation; or
(b) to protect the same from contamination in such manner as the Chief Executive Officer may direct; or
(c) if the water therein is proved to the satisfaction of the Chief Executive Officer to be unfit for drinking purposes, to take such measures as may be specified in the notice to prevent the public from having access to or using such water:
Provided that, in the case of a well, such person as aforesaid may, instead of complying with the notice, signify in writing his desire to be relieved of all responsibility for the proper maintenance of the well and his readiness to place it under the control and supervision of the Board for the use of the public, and, if he does so, he shall not be bound to carry out the requisition, and the Board shall undertake the control and supervision of the well.
(a) to keep the same in good order and to clear it from time to time of silt, refuse and decaying vegetation; or
(b) to protect the same from contamination in such manner as the Chief Executive Officer may direct; or
(c) if the water therein is proved to the satisfaction of the Chief Executive Officer to be unfit for drinking purposes, to take such measures as may be specified in the notice to prevent the public from having access to or using such water:
Provided that, in the case of a well, such person as aforesaid may, instead of complying with the notice, signify in writing his desire to be relieved of all responsibility for the proper maintenance of the well and his readiness to place it under the control and supervision of the Board for the use of the public, and, if he does so, he shall not be bound to carry out the requisition, and the Board shall undertake the control and supervision of the well.
Section 191 Supply of water.
(1) Subject to the guidelines made by the Board in this regard, the Chief Executive Officer may permit the owner, lessee or occupier of any building or land to connect the building or land with a source of public water-supply by means of communication pipes of such size and description as may be specified for the purpose of obtaining water for domestic use.
(2) The occupier of every building so connected with the water-supply shall be entitled to have for domestic use, in return for the water tax, if any, such quantity of water as the Chief Executive Officer may determine.
(3) All water supplied in excess of the quantity to which such supply is limited under sub-section (2) and, in a cantonment in which a water tax is not imposed, all water supplied under this section, shall be paid for at such rate as the Board may fix keeping in view its financial viability.--
(4) The supply of water for domestic use shall not be deemed to include any supply for--
(a) animals or for washing vehicles where such animals or vehicle are kept for sale or hire;
(b) any trade, manufacture or business;
(c) fountains, swimming baths or any ornamental or mechanical purpose;
(d) gardens or for purposes of irrigation;
(e) making or watering roads or paths; or
(f) building purposes.
(2) The occupier of every building so connected with the water-supply shall be entitled to have for domestic use, in return for the water tax, if any, such quantity of water as the Chief Executive Officer may determine.
(3) All water supplied in excess of the quantity to which such supply is limited under sub-section (2) and, in a cantonment in which a water tax is not imposed, all water supplied under this section, shall be paid for at such rate as the Board may fix keeping in view its financial viability.--
(4) The supply of water for domestic use shall not be deemed to include any supply for--
(a) animals or for washing vehicles where such animals or vehicle are kept for sale or hire;
(b) any trade, manufacture or business;
(c) fountains, swimming baths or any ornamental or mechanical purpose;
(d) gardens or for purposes of irrigation;
(e) making or watering roads or paths; or
(f) building purposes.
Section 192 Power to require water-supply to be taken.
If it appears to the Chief Executive Officer that any building or land in the cantonment is without a proper supply of potable water, the Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee or occupier of the building or land to obtain from a source of public water-supply such quantity of water, as is, adequate to the requirements of the persons usually occupying or employed upon the building or land, and to provide communication pipes of the prescribed size and description, and to take all necessary steps for the above purposes.
Section 193 Supply of water under agreement.
(1) Subject to the guidelines made by the Board in this regard, the Chief Executive Officer may, by agreement, supply, from any source of public water supply, the owner, lessee or occupier of any building or land in the cantonment with any water for any purpose, other than a domestic purpose, on such terms and conditions, consistent with this Act and the rules and bye laws made thereunder, as may be agreed upon between the Chief Executive Officer and such owner, lessee or occupier.
(2) The Chief Executive Officer may withdraw such supply or curtail the quantity thereof at any time if it should appear necessary to do so for the purpose of maintaining sufficient supply of water for domestic use by inhabitants of the cantonment.
(2) The Chief Executive Officer may withdraw such supply or curtail the quantity thereof at any time if it should appear necessary to do so for the purpose of maintaining sufficient supply of water for domestic use by inhabitants of the cantonment.
Section 194 Board not liable for failure of supply.
Notwithstanding any obligation imposed on Boards under this Act, a Board shall not be liable to any forfeiture, penalty or damages for failure to supply water or for curtailing the quantity thereof if the failure or curtailment, as the case may be, arises from accident or from drought or other unavoidable cause unless, in the case of an agreement for the supply of water under section 193, the Board has made express provision for forfeiture, penalty or damages in the event of such failure or curtailment.
Section 195 Conditions of universal application.
Notwithstanding anything herein before contained or contained in any agreement under section 193, the supply of water by a Board to any building or land shall be, and shall be deemed to have been granted subject to the following conditions, namely:--
(a) the owner, lessee or occupier of any building or land in or on which water supplied by the Board is wasted by reason of the pipes, drains or other works being out of repair shall, if he has knowledge thereof, give notice of the same to such officer as the Chief Executive Officer may appoint in this behalf;
(b) the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer or employee of the Board authorised by him in writing in this behalf may enter into or on any premises supplied with water by the Board, for the purpose of examining all pipes, taps, works and fittings connected with the supply of water and of ascertaining whether there is any waste or misuse of such water;
(c) the Chief Executive Officer may, after giving notice in writing, cut off the connection between any source of public water-supply and any building or land to which water is supplied for any purpose there from, or turn off such supply if--
(i) the owner or occupier of the building or land neglects to pay the water tax or water rate or other charges connected with the water supply within one month from the date on which such tax or rate or charge falls due for payment;
(ii) the occupier refuses to admit the Chief Executive Officer or other authorised officer or employee of the Board into the building or land for the purpose of making any examination or inquiry authorised by clause (b) or prevents the making of such examination or inquiry;
(iii) the occupier wilfully or negligently misuses or causes waste of water;
(iv) the occupier wilfully or negligently injures or damages his meter or any pipe or tap conveying water from the water works;
(v) any pipes, taps, works or fittings connected with the supply of water to the building or land are found, on examination by any other officer or employee of the Board authorised by the Chief Executive Officer in writing in this behalf, to be out of repair to such an extent as to cause waste of water;
(d) the expense of cutting off the connection or of turning off the water in any case referred to in clause (c) shall be paid by the owner or occupier of the building or land;
(e) no action taken under or in pursuance of clause (c) shall relieve any person from any penalty or liability which he may otherwise have incurred.
(a) the owner, lessee or occupier of any building or land in or on which water supplied by the Board is wasted by reason of the pipes, drains or other works being out of repair shall, if he has knowledge thereof, give notice of the same to such officer as the Chief Executive Officer may appoint in this behalf;
(b) the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer or employee of the Board authorised by him in writing in this behalf may enter into or on any premises supplied with water by the Board, for the purpose of examining all pipes, taps, works and fittings connected with the supply of water and of ascertaining whether there is any waste or misuse of such water;
(c) the Chief Executive Officer may, after giving notice in writing, cut off the connection between any source of public water-supply and any building or land to which water is supplied for any purpose there from, or turn off such supply if--
(i) the owner or occupier of the building or land neglects to pay the water tax or water rate or other charges connected with the water supply within one month from the date on which such tax or rate or charge falls due for payment;
(ii) the occupier refuses to admit the Chief Executive Officer or other authorised officer or employee of the Board into the building or land for the purpose of making any examination or inquiry authorised by clause (b) or prevents the making of such examination or inquiry;
(iii) the occupier wilfully or negligently misuses or causes waste of water;
(iv) the occupier wilfully or negligently injures or damages his meter or any pipe or tap conveying water from the water works;
(v) any pipes, taps, works or fittings connected with the supply of water to the building or land are found, on examination by any other officer or employee of the Board authorised by the Chief Executive Officer in writing in this behalf, to be out of repair to such an extent as to cause waste of water;
(d) the expense of cutting off the connection or of turning off the water in any case referred to in clause (c) shall be paid by the owner or occupier of the building or land;
(e) no action taken under or in pursuance of clause (c) shall relieve any person from any penalty or liability which he may otherwise have incurred.
Section 196 Supply to persons outside cantonment.
A Board may allow any person not residing within the limits of the cantonment to take or be supplied with water for any purpose from any source of public water supply on such terms as it may prescribe, and may at any time withdraw or curtail such supply.
Section 197 Penalty.
Whoever---
(a) uses for other than domestic purposes any water supplied by a Board for domestic use; or
(b) where water is supplied by agreement with a Board for a specified purpose, uses that water for any other purposes shall be 1[liable to penalty] which may extend to two thousand five hundred rupees, and in addition, the Board shall be entitled to recover from him the cost of the water misused.
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. for “punishable with fine” (w.e.f. 22-05-2026).
Section 198 Power of Board to lay wires, connections, etc.
A Board may carry any cable, wire, pipe, drain, sewer or channel of any kind,--
(a) for the purpose of carrying out, establishing or maintaining any system of water-supply, lighting, drainage, or sewerage, through, across, under or over any road or street or any place laid out or intended as a road or street, or, after giving reasonable notice in writing to the owner or occupier, into, through, across, under or over any land or building, or up side of any building, situated within the cantonment; or
(b) for the purpose of supplying water or of the introduction or distribution of outflow of water or for the removal or outflow of sewage, after giving reasonable notice in writing to the owner or occupier, into, through, across, under or over any land or building, or up side of any building, situated outside the cantonment and may at all times do all acts and things which may be necessary or expedient for repairing or maintaining any such cable, wire, pipe, drain, sewer or channel in an effective state for the purpose for which the same may be used or is intended to be used:
Provided that no nuisance shall be caused in excess of what is reasonably necessary for the proper execution of the work:
Provided further that compensation shall be payable to the owner or occupier for any damage sustained by him which is directly occasioned by the carrying out of any such operation.
(a) for the purpose of carrying out, establishing or maintaining any system of water-supply, lighting, drainage, or sewerage, through, across, under or over any road or street or any place laid out or intended as a road or street, or, after giving reasonable notice in writing to the owner or occupier, into, through, across, under or over any land or building, or up side of any building, situated within the cantonment; or
(b) for the purpose of supplying water or of the introduction or distribution of outflow of water or for the removal or outflow of sewage, after giving reasonable notice in writing to the owner or occupier, into, through, across, under or over any land or building, or up side of any building, situated outside the cantonment and may at all times do all acts and things which may be necessary or expedient for repairing or maintaining any such cable, wire, pipe, drain, sewer or channel in an effective state for the purpose for which the same may be used or is intended to be used:
Provided that no nuisance shall be caused in excess of what is reasonably necessary for the proper execution of the work:
Provided further that compensation shall be payable to the owner or occupier for any damage sustained by him which is directly occasioned by the carrying out of any such operation.
Section 199 Wires, etc., laid above surface of ground.
In the event of any cable, wire, pipe, drain, sewer or channel being laid or carried above the surface of any land or through, over or up side of any building, such cable, wire, pipe, drain sewer or channel shall be so laid or carried as to interfere as little as possible with the rights of the owner or occupier to the due enjoyment of such land or building, and compensation shall be payable by the Board in respect of any substantial interference with the right to any such enjoyment.
Section 200 Connection with main not be made without permission.
No person shall, for any purpose whatsoever, without the permission of the Board at any time make or cause to be made any connection or communication with any cable, wire, pipe, drain, sewer or channel constructed or maintained by, or vested in, a Board.