( l) Where, on any representa tiOn ftom the ,·omprt<'lll .\llthonty, Jt appcats 1o the Government that for the purpose of improving or devclopmg any ~tum ,\rca, or f01 the purpose of 1c-devclnpmg any 'lhliH dcarancc area or fcH· thr. purpose of rchabilitatmg slum dwellers, it ts •tccrc;c;at y to acqutre nny J.md wuhm, adjotmng or surroundt:d by any such c;lum area or slum clenr.mce 4wea, they may acquttc the land by puhh~hmg in the Gazette a notice to the effect that they have dcddctl to dcquirc the hmd in pUlsuance of tlu:, ~ccuon :
l'r ovid<'d th,\.t, bef(n e pubbshmg such notLcc, the Go\·ernmcnt shall call upon the nwnet· of, or an.y other person who, m the opmion of the Govern• mcnt, may be mt<'rcsted in, :,uch land to show cause why it should not be acquut'd ; and after comtdcring the cause, ,f any, sho\\ n by the owner or any otllrl· pet son interested in the land, the Govetnmcnt m.ty pass such order as they deem fit.
158 (J.) When a notice referrred to in sub~section (1) is published in the Gueuc, the land shall, on anci form the da~ on which the notice is so published, ve'>t ab~olutely in the Government free from all encumbrances.