The Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Act, 1960

(1) Whoever being bound to submit a return under section 4 fails without reasonable cause to do so, within the prescribed time, or submits a return which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, ¹[shall be liable to penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees].

(2) Whoever contravenes any lawful order made under this Act or otherwise obstructs any person from lawfully taking possession of any land shall be ²[liable to penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees].

    (1) The Chief Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

    (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--

        (a) the form in which and the period within which a return under section 4 may be submitted;

        (b) the agency through which information under section 5 may be collected;

        (c) the manner of holding inquiries under this Act;

        (d) the matters which may be determined by the compelent authority under sub-section (1) of section 6 and the manner of determination of excess land under the Act;

        (e) the form in which a list under sub-section (3) of section 6 or sub-section (3) of section 9 may be prepared and the manner of publication of such list;

        (f) the period within which an application for restoration of excess land of an Asami may be made by the Bhumidhar;

        (g) the manner of apportionment of ¹[amount] between the Bhumidhar and the Asami in respect of any excess land in the possession of the Asami;

        (h) the manner of determination of the net annual income of any excess land for the purposes of payment of ¹[amount];

        (i) the manner of assessment of market value of structures and buildings and the value of trees for the purpose of payment of ¹[amount];

        (j) the number of instalments in which ¹[any amount] under this Act may be paid or recovered; and the period within which bonds may be redeemed;

        (k) the manner of demarcation of excess land;

        (l) the purposes for which land may be reserved under section 15;

        ²[(la) the manner of holding an inquiry and imposing penalties under sub-section (1) of section 23A;]

        (lb) the form and manner of preferring appeal to the appellate authority against the order of adjudicating officer under sub-section (2) of section 23A.]

        (m) the categories of persons to whom excess land may be allotted and the terms and conditions on which such allotment may be made;

        (n) the powers of a civil court which may be vested in any officer or authority holding an inquiry;

        (o) the conditions and restrictions subject to which an officer may enter upon any land for the purpose of survey and taking measurement;

        (p) the levy of fees in respect of any matter under this Act;

        (q) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed.

    (3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days ³[which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid], both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

¹[23A. Adjudication of penalties.—(1) For the purpose of adjudicating penalties under section 23, the State Government may appoint an officer not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Revenue Assistant) to be the adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry and imposing penalties in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the State Government may appoint as many adjudicating officers as may be required:

Provided further that no such penalty shall be imposed without giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(2) Whoever is aggrieved by an order passed by the adjudicating officer under sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the date of receipt of such order, prefer an appeal to an officer not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), as may be appointed by the State Government as an appellate authority, in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The appellate authority may admit an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if the appellant satisfies the appellate authority that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within that period.

(4) The appellate authority may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such an order as he may think fit.

(5) An appeal under sub-section (2) shall be disposed of within sixty days from the date of filing.

(6) If a penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer under sub-section (1) or by an order of the appellate authority under sub-section (4), as the case may be, is not deposited, the amount shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue.]