(1) No landlord shall enter on any land which has been abandoned by a cultivating tenant.
(2) If a cultivating tenant abandons his tenancy and ceases to cultivate his holding either by himself or by some other person, the landlord of such tenancy shall, within thirty days of such abandonment, inform the Government in writing that the cultivating tenant has abandoned such tenancy and the Government shall, on receipt of such intimation, forthwith take possession of the land appertaining to such tenancy.
______________________________________________________________________________
1. Substituted by Act 9 of 1972. section 5, with effect from 10-4-4971.
548
(3) The Government shall pay to the landlord fair rent payable under the Puducherry Cultivating Tenants (Payment of Fair Rent) Act, 1970, for the land possessed by that Government under sub-section (2) from the date on which the Government takes possession of such land.
(4) The Government may settle any other cultivating tenant on any land possession of which has been taken under sub-section (2).
(5) The cultivating tenant settled under sub-section (4) shall pay the fair rent as payable under the Puducherry Cultivating Tenants (Payment of Fair Rent) Act, 1970, directly to the landlord and the Government’s liability under sub-section (3) with regard to the payment of fair rent for such land shall, on and from the date on which the cultivating tenant has been settled on the land, cease.
Landlord to take possession in specified cases.
14. No landlord shall obtain possession of any land held by a cultivating tenant at the commencement of this Act, except where such tenant is evicted under section 3 or where the land is surrendered or abandoned by a cultivating tenant under section 12 or section 13, as the case may be.
Penalty.
15. Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 13 shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees and the possession of the land shall be restored to the cultivating tenant.
Power to make rules.