(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force if the Competent Authority, either on application or suo motu, has reason to believe that any person is occupying any vacant land in an urban area in contravention of the provisions of section 3, it may by order require such person to vacate the land forth with or by certain time intimated to such person, and to remove all property therefrom, and if such person fails to comply with the order to vacate the land and to remove all property therefrom, he may be summarily evicted from such land by the Competent Authority, and any property which may be found thereon may be ordered by the Competent Authority 3[to be forfeited to such authority as the State Government may by general or special order specify and be removed from the vacant land.]
2 Maharashtra Vacant Lands (Prohibition of[ 1975: Mah. LXVI Unauthorised Occupation and Summary Eviction) Act, 1975 Prohibition against unauthorised occupation of vacant land.
Power of Competent Authority to evict persons from unauthorised occupation of vacant lands.
1 Clause (f) was deemed always to have been substituted by Mah. 37 of 1976, s. 2.
2 This proviso was added, ibid., s. 3.
3 These words were substituted, ibid., s. 4(a).
For the purposes of eviction and removal of any such property, the Competent Authourity may take, or cause to be taken, such steps and use, or cause to be used, such force, and may take such assistance of the police officers as the circumstances of the case may require.
Explanation.—For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the power to take steps under this sub-section includes the power to enter upon any land or other property whatsoever.
(2) The order of eviction of any person from any vacant land 1[or forfeiture of any property thereon or removal of any property therefrom] under sub-section (1) shall be final and conclusive, and shall not be called in question in any Court.
(3) A person who is found to be on any vacant land belonging to, or vesting in, another person shall, unless the contrary is proved by him to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority, be deemed to be in occupation of such vacant land in contravention of the provisions of section 3.