[8AA. Restriction on partition of land.- (1) Where, by transfer, decree, succession or otherwise, two or more persons are entitled to shares in an undivided agricultural land in any local area for which standard areas have been fixed, and the land has to be partitioned among them, such partition shall be effected so as not to create a fragment.
(2) Where such partition is made by the Court or the Collector, the following procedure shall be adopted :-
(a) If, in effecting a partition among several co-sharers, it is found that a co-sharer is entitled to a specific share in the land and cannot be given that share without creating a fragment, he shall be compensated in money for that share. The amount of compensation shall be determined so far as practicable in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (I of 1894).
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(b) If, in effecting a partition, it is found that there is not enough land to provide for the shares of all the co-sharers in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the co-sharers may agree among themselves as to the particular co-sharer or co-sharers who should get the share of land and which of them should be compensated in money. In the absence of any such agreement, the co-sharers to whom a share of land can be provided and those to whom money compensation should be given shall be chosen by lot in the manner prescribed.
(c) The compensation shall be payable by each co-sharer in proportion to the excess value of land he gets over the share of land legally due to him, and such co-sharer shall deposit the proportionate amount of compensation in the manner prescribed before taking possession of the share allotted to him. On his failure to do so, his share shall be allotted to any other co-sharer to whom land has not been previously allotted and who is chosen in the manner provided in clause (b) subject to the payment of similar compensation to the co-sharers not getting sharers of land.
(d) If none of the co-sharers to whom land has been allotted under clause (c) pays the compensation and takes the share, the share shall be sold in auction to the highest bidder, and the purchase money shall be paid to the co-sharers not getting land in proportion to their respective shares.
(e) Where the parties agree upon any other method of partition which will not result in the creation of a fragment, that method shall be followed in effecting partition.
(3) Where a partition is effected in execution of a decree all questions relating to the partition of the land and apportionment of compensation shall be decided by the Court executing the decree or by the Collector effecting the partition, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2).