The Cantonments Act, 2006
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Defence / Department of Defence
Section
Section 141 Special provisions for collection of rubbish and solid waste management.
(1) All solid waste material generated in a cantonment shall be removed by the Board and be brought to the compost sites or sanitary land sites or trenching sites earmarked by it for the purpose.
(2) The Board shall also devise schemes for collecting rubbish and garbage from each house in the cantonment and may, if considers necessary, associate residents' welfare associations or such other non governmental organisation for this purpose.
(3) As far as possible the Board shall devise appropriate system to ensure that all compostable or bio-degradable waste in the cantonment is recycled and used for generating manure, bio-gas or any other form of energy.
(2) The Board shall also devise schemes for collecting rubbish and garbage from each house in the cantonment and may, if considers necessary, associate residents' welfare associations or such other non governmental organisation for this purpose.
(3) As far as possible the Board shall devise appropriate system to ensure that all compostable or bio-degradable waste in the cantonment is recycled and used for generating manure, bio-gas or any other form of energy.
Section 142 Removal of congested buildings.
(1) Where it appears to a Board that any block of buildings in the cantonment is in an unhealthy condition by reason of the manner in which the buildings are crowded together, or of the narrowness or closeness of the street, or of the want of proper drainage or ventilation, or of the impracticability of cleansing the buildings or other similar cause, it may cause the block to be inspected by a committee consisting of--
(a) the Health Officer,
(b) the Civil Surgeon of the district or, if his services are not available, some other medical officer in the service of the Government,
(c) the Executive Engineer or a person deputed by the Executive Engineer in this behalf, and
(d) two non-official members of the Board.
(2) The committee shall make a report in writing to the Board regarding the sanitary condition of the block, and, if it considers that the condition thereof is likely to cause risk of disease to the inhabitants of the building or of the neighbourhood or otherwise to endanger the public health, it shall clearly indicate on a plan verified by the Executive Engineer or the person deputed by him to serve on the committee, the buildings which should in its opinion wholly or in part be removed in order to abate the unhealthy condition of the block.
(3) If, upon receipt of such report, the Board is of opinion that all or any buildings indicated should be removed, it may, by notice in writing, require the owners thereof to remove them:
Provided that the Board shall make compensation as it thinks fit to the owners for any buildings so removed which have been erected under proper authority:
Provided further that the Board may if it considers it equitable in the circumstances so to do pay to the owners such sum as it thinks fit as compensation for any buildings so removed which have not been erected under proper authority.
(4) For the purposes of this section buildings includes enclosure, walls and fences appertaining to buildings.
(a) the Health Officer,
(b) the Civil Surgeon of the district or, if his services are not available, some other medical officer in the service of the Government,
(c) the Executive Engineer or a person deputed by the Executive Engineer in this behalf, and
(d) two non-official members of the Board.
(2) The committee shall make a report in writing to the Board regarding the sanitary condition of the block, and, if it considers that the condition thereof is likely to cause risk of disease to the inhabitants of the building or of the neighbourhood or otherwise to endanger the public health, it shall clearly indicate on a plan verified by the Executive Engineer or the person deputed by him to serve on the committee, the buildings which should in its opinion wholly or in part be removed in order to abate the unhealthy condition of the block.
(3) If, upon receipt of such report, the Board is of opinion that all or any buildings indicated should be removed, it may, by notice in writing, require the owners thereof to remove them:
Provided that the Board shall make compensation as it thinks fit to the owners for any buildings so removed which have been erected under proper authority:
Provided further that the Board may if it considers it equitable in the circumstances so to do pay to the owners such sum as it thinks fit as compensation for any buildings so removed which have not been erected under proper authority.
(4) For the purposes of this section buildings includes enclosure, walls and fences appertaining to buildings.
Section 143 Overcrowding of dwelling houses.
(1) Where it appears to a Board that any building or part of a building in the cantonment which is used as a dwelling house is so overcrowded as to endanger the health of the inmates thereof, it may, after such inquiry as it thinks fit, by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of the building or part thereof, as the case may be, within such time not being less than one month as may be specified in the notice, to abate the overcrowding of the same by reducing the number of lodgers, tenants, or other inmates to such number as may be specified in the notice.
(2) Any person who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with a requisition made upon him under sub-section (1) shall be 1[liable to penalty which may extend to two thousand and five hundred rupees and, in the case of continuing default, to an additional penalty which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees for each day after the first during which the default continues].
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. for certain words (w.e.f. 22-05-2026).
Section 144 Power to require repair or alternation of building.
(1) Where any building in a cantonment is so ill-constructed or dilapidated as to be, in the opinion of the Board, in an insanitary state, the Board may, by notice in writing, require the owner, within such time as may be specified in the notice, to execute such repairs or to make such alterations as it thinks necessary for the purpose of removing such defects.
(2) A copy of every notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be conspicuously pasted on the building to which it relates.
(3) A notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been complied with, if the owner of the building to which it relates has, instead of executing the repairs or making the alterations directed by the notice, removed the building.
(2) A copy of every notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be conspicuously pasted on the building to which it relates.
(3) A notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been complied with, if the owner of the building to which it relates has, instead of executing the repairs or making the alterations directed by the notice, removed the building.
Section 145 Power to require land or building to be cleansed.
(1) If any building or land, whether tenantable or otherwise, is---
(i) in an insanitary, filthy or unwholesome state; or
(ii) in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer, a nuisance to persons residing in the neighbourhood; or
(iii) overgrown with prickly-pear or rank and noisome vegetation the Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee or occupier of such building or land to clean, lime-wash internally or externally, clear, or otherwise put such building or land in a proper state within such period as may be specified in the notice.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with the notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be 1[liable to penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees and, in the case of continuing default, to an additional penalty which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees for each day after the first during which the default continues].
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. for certain words (w.e.f. 22-05-2026).
Section 146 Prohibition in respect of air pollutant.
No owner, occupier, lessee or any other occupant of the premises shall allow or cause to be allowed any air pollutant above the standards, laid down under clause (g) of sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981).
Section 147 Power to order disuse of house.
If a Board is satisfied that any building or part of a building in the cantonment which is intended for or used as a dwelling place is unfit for human habitation, it may cause a notice to be pasted on some conspicuous part of the building prohibiting the owner or occupier thereof from using the building or room for human habitation, or allowing it to be so used, until it has been rendered fit for such use to the satisfaction of the Board.
Section 148 Removal of noxious vegetation.
The Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee, or occupier of any land in the cantonment to clear away and remove any thick or noxious vegetation or undergrowth which appears to him to be injurious to health or offensive to persons residing in the neighbourhood.
Section 149 Agriculture and irrigation.
Where, in the opinion of a Board, the cultivation in the cantonment of any description of crop or the use therein of any kind of manure or the irrigation of any land therein in any specified manner is likely to be injurious to the health of persons dwelling in the neighbourhood, the Board may, by public notice, prohibit such cultivation, use or irrigation after such date as may be specified in the notice, or may, by a like notice, direct that it shall be carried out subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit:
Provided that if, when a notice is issued under this section, any land to which it relates has been lawfully prepared for cultivation or any crop is sown therein or is standing there on, the Board shall, if it directs that the notice is to take effect on a date earlier than that by which the crop would ordinarily be sown or reaped, as the case may be, make compensation to all persons interested in the land or crop for the loss, if any, incurred by them respectively by reason of compliance with the notice.
Provided that if, when a notice is issued under this section, any land to which it relates has been lawfully prepared for cultivation or any crop is sown therein or is standing there on, the Board shall, if it directs that the notice is to take effect on a date earlier than that by which the crop would ordinarily be sown or reaped, as the case may be, make compensation to all persons interested in the land or crop for the loss, if any, incurred by them respectively by reason of compliance with the notice.
Section 150 Power to call for information regarding burial and burning grounds.
The Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the owner or person in-charge of any burial or burning ground in the cantonment to supply such information as may be specified in the notice concerning the condition, management or position of such ground.
Section 151 Permission for use of new burial or burning ground.
(1) No place in a cantonment which has not been used as a burial or burning ground before the commencement of this Act shall be so used without the permission in writing of the Board.
(2) Such permission may be granted subject to any conditions which the Board thinks fit to impose for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or danger to the health of, persons residing in the neighbourhood.
(2) Such permission may be granted subject to any conditions which the Board thinks fit to impose for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or danger to the health of, persons residing in the neighbourhood.
Section 152 Power to require closing of burial or burning ground.
(1) Where a Board, after making or causing to be made local inquiry, is of opinion that any burial or burning ground in the cantonment has become offensive to, or dangerous to the health of, persons living in the neighbourhood, it may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government by notice in writing, require the owner or person in charge of such ground to close the same from such date as may be specified in the notice.
(2) Where the Central Government sanctions the issue of any notice under sub-section (1) it shall declare the conditions on which the burial or burning ground may be re-opened, and a copy of such declaration shall be annexed to the notice.
(3) Where the Central Government sanctions the issues of any such notice, it shall require a new burial or burning ground to be provided at the expense of the cantonment fund, or, if the community concerned is willing to provide a new burial or burning ground, the Central Government shall require a grant to be made from the cantonment fund towards the cost of the same.
(4) No corpse shall be buried or burnt in any burial or burning ground in respect of which a notice issued under this section is for the time being in force.
(2) Where the Central Government sanctions the issue of any notice under sub-section (1) it shall declare the conditions on which the burial or burning ground may be re-opened, and a copy of such declaration shall be annexed to the notice.
(3) Where the Central Government sanctions the issues of any such notice, it shall require a new burial or burning ground to be provided at the expense of the cantonment fund, or, if the community concerned is willing to provide a new burial or burning ground, the Central Government shall require a grant to be made from the cantonment fund towards the cost of the same.
(4) No corpse shall be buried or burnt in any burial or burning ground in respect of which a notice issued under this section is for the time being in force.
Section 153 Exemption from operation of sections 150 to 152.
The provisions of sections 150, 151 and 152 shall not apply in the case of any burial ground which is for the time being managed by or on behalf of the Government.
Section 154 Removal of corpses.
The Board may, by public notice, prescribe routes in the cantonment by which alone corpses may be removed to burial or burning grounds.
Section 155 Omitted.
[Blood Bank.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (18 of 2023), s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 2-11-2023).
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. for certain words (w.e.f. 22-05-2026).
2. Subs. by s. 2 and Sch. ibid., for “no person shall be punishable” (w.e.f. 22-05-2026).
Section 156 Blood Bank.
Subject to the provisions of any Act made in this regard and the rules and regulation made thereunder, whoever, being in charge of a blood bank or any other establishment which collects or supplies blood, plasma, marrow or any other substance for transfusion or treatment of patients or for any other medical use, fails to take adequate precautions or exercise adequate supervision thereby leading to or resulting in the supply of infected or contaminated blood, plasma, marrow or any other substance, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both.
Section 157 Special measures in case of outbreak of infectious or epidemic diseases.
(1) In the event of a cantonment being visited or threatened by an outbreak of any infectious or contagious disease among the inhabitants thereof or of any epidemic disease among any animals therein, the Officer Commanding the Station, if he thinks that the provisions of this Act or of any law for the time being in force in the cantonment are insufficient for the purpose, may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government--
(a) take such special measures, and
(b) by public notice, make such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any class or section of the public, as he thinks necessary to prevent the outbreak or the spread of the disease:
Provided that where in the opinion of the Officer Commanding the Station, immediate measures are necessary, he may take action without such sanction as aforesaid and, if he does so, shall forthwith report such action to the Central Government.
(2) Whoever commits a breach of any temporary regulation made under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
(a) take such special measures, and
(b) by public notice, make such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any class or section of the public, as he thinks necessary to prevent the outbreak or the spread of the disease:
Provided that where in the opinion of the Officer Commanding the Station, immediate measures are necessary, he may take action without such sanction as aforesaid and, if he does so, shall forthwith report such action to the Central Government.
(2) Whoever commits a breach of any temporary regulation made under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Section 158 Power to require names of a dairyman‟s customers.
Where it is certified to the Chief Executive Officer by a medical practitioner that the outbreak or spread of any infectious or contagious disease in the cantonment is, in the opinion of such medical practitioner, attributable to the milk supplied by any dairyman, the Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the dairyman, with in such time as may be specified in the notice, to furnish him with a full and complete list of the names and addresses of all his customers within the cantonment, or to give him such information as will enable him to trace the persons to whom the dairyman has sold milk.
Section 159 Power to require names of a washerman‟s customers.
Where it is certified to the Chief Executive Officer by the Health Officer that it is desirable, with a view to prevent the spread of any infectious or contagious disease in the cantonment, that the Health Officer should be furnished with a list of the customers of any washerman, the Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the washerman, within a time to be specified in the notice, to furnish the Health Officer with a full and complete list of the names and addresses of all owners within the cantonment of clothes and other articles which the washerman washes or has washed during the six weeks immediately preceding the date of the notice.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expression "washerman" shall mean an individual, body corporate, association of persons engaged in washing clothes in a cantonment.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expression "washerman" shall mean an individual, body corporate, association of persons engaged in washing clothes in a cantonment.
Section 160 Power to require names of patients or customers of a medical practitioner or paramedical workers.
Where it is certified to the Chief Executive Officer by the Health Officer or a doctor in the employment of the Board that there is apprehension of the outbreak or spreading of any infectious or contagious or communicable disease in the cantonment because of use of contaminated needles, syringes or any other such equipment by a medical practitioner or by any paramedical worker, the Chief Executive Officer may, by notice in writing, require the medical practitioner or the paramedical worker, within such time as may be specified in the notice, to furnish him with a full and complete list of the names and addresses of all his customers or patients within the cantonment, or to give him such information as will enable him to trace the persons whom the medical practitioner or the paramedical worker has attended to or treated in the six weeks preceding the date of issuing the notice.