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DISPLACED PERSONS (DEBTS ADJUSTMENT) ACT 1951

ACT NO. 70 OF 1951

[7th November, 1951.]

Short title, extent and commencement.

1. Short title, extent and commencement. (1) This Act may be called the Displaced Persons (Debts Adjustment) Act, 1951.

(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(3) It shall come into force on such date 1* as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different States or for different parts thereof.

Definitions. 2. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--

(1) "company" means a company as defined in the Indian Companies Act, 1913 2* (7 of 1913), and includes a company deemed to be registered under that Act by reason of any of the provisions contained in this Act;

(2) "Companies Act" means the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913);

(3) "compensation" means any compensation paid, whether in cash or in kind, in respect of any immovable property in West Pakistan belonging to a displaced person under any general scheme arrived at in this behalf between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan or framed by the Government of India; ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 10th December, 1951 in the States of Delhi, Ajmer, Punjab, Uttar

Pradesh and Bombay: see notification No. 68(21)/51-Prop., dated 7th December, 1951, Gazette of India, 1951, Extraordinary, Pt. I, Sec 1, p. 503: and in all other States of India, 20th December, 1951: see notification No. S.R.O. 2005, dated 13th December, 1951, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, 1951, pt. II, Sec. 3, p. 1489. 2. This Act has now been repealed by Act 1 of 1956. 62

(4) "co-operative society" means a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force in any State for the registration of co- operative societies;

(5) "Co-operative Societies Act" means the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), and includes any other law for the time being in force in any State relating to co-operative societies;

(6) "debt" means any pecuniary liability, whether payable presently or in future, or under a decree or order of a Civil or Revenue Court or otherwise, or whether ascertained or to be ascertained, which-- (a) in the case of a displaced person who has left or been displaced from his place of residence in any area now forming part of West Pakistan, was incurred before he came to reside in any area now forming part of India; (b) in the case of a displaced person who, before and after the 15th day of August, 1947, has been residing in any area now forming part of India, was incurred before the said date on the security of any immovable property situate in the territories now forming part of West Pakistan: Provided that where any such liability was incurred on the security of immovable properties situate both in India and in West Pakistan, the liability shall be so apportioned between the said properties that the liability in relation to each of the said properties bears the same proportion to the total amount of the debts as the value of each of the properties as at the date of the transaction bears to the total value of the properties furnished as security, and the liability, for the purposes of this clause, shall be the liability which is relatable to the property in West Pakistan; (c) is due to a displaced person from any other person (whether a displaced person or not) ordinarily residing in the territories to which this Act extends; and includes any pecuniary liability incurred before the commencement of this Act by any such person as is referred to in this clause which is based on, and is solely by way of 63 renewal of, any such liability as is referred to in sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) or sub-clause (c): Provided that in the case of a loan, whether in cash or in kind, the amount originally advanced and not the amount for which the liability has been renewed shall be deemed to be the extent of the liability; but does not include any pecuniary liability due under a decree passed after the 15th day of August, 1947, by any Court situate in West Pakistan or any pecuniary liability the proof of which depends merely on an oral agreement;

(7) "displaced bank" means a banking company which, before the 15th day of August, 1947, carried on the business of banking, whether wholly or partially, in any area now forming part of West Pakistan and is declared to be a displaced bank within the meaning of this Act by the Central Government by notification 1* in the Official gazette;

(8) "displaced creditor" means a displaced person to whom a debt is due from any other person, whether a displaced person or not;

(9) "displaced debtor" means a displaced person from whom a debt is due or is being claimed;

(10) "displaced person" means any person who, on account of the setting up of the Dominions of India and Pakistan, or on account of civil disturbances or the fear of such disturbances in any area now forming part of West Pakistan, has, after the 1st day of March, 1947, left, or been displaced from, his place of residence in such area and who has been subsequently residing in India, and includes any person who is resident in any place now forming part of India and who for that reason is unable or has been rendered unable to manage, supervise or control any immovable property belonging to him in West Pakistan, but does not include a banking company;

(11) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. For such notifications see Gazette of India, 1952, Pt. II, Sec. 3, pp. 624 and 889, and ibid., 1953, p. 238. 64

(12) "Tribunal" means any Civil Court specified under section 4 as having authority to exercise jurisdiction under this Act;

(13) "verified claim" means any claim registered under the Displaced Persons (Claims) Act, 1950 (44 of 1950) in respect of which a final order has been passed under that Act relating to its verification and valuation;

(14) "West Pakistan" means the territories of Pakistan excluding the Province of East Bengal.

Overriding effect of Act, rules and orders. 3. Overriding effect of Act, rules and orders. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act and of the rules and orders made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force, or in any decree or order of a Court, or in any contract between the parties.

Tribunals competent to exercise jurisdiction under this Act. 4. Tribunals competent to exercise jurisdiction under this Act. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify any Civil Court or class of Civil Courts as the Tribunal or Tribunals having authority to exercise jurisdiction under this Act and may define the areas in which and the extent to which such jurisdiction may be exercised. CHAP DEBT ADJUSTMENT PROCEEDINGS CHAPTER II DEBT ADJUSTMENT PROCEEDINGS

Application by displaced debtors for adjustment of debts.

5. Application by displaced debtors for adjustment of debts. (1) At any time within one year after the date on which this Act comes into force in any local area, a displaced debtor may make an application for the adjustment of his debts to the Tribunal within the local limits of whose jurisdiction he actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business or personally works for gain.

(2) Every application by a displaced debtor shall contain the following particulars, namely:-- (a) the place where he resides; (b) the trade, calling, profession or other employment in which he is now engaged and in which he was engaged in West Pakistan before he became a displaced person; (c) his average annual income in India during the three years immediately preceding the application; 65 (d) the income-tax and super-tax, if any, to which he has been assessed for the three years immediately preceding the application; (e) such other particulars as may be prescribed; and shall be accompanied by the following schedules, namely:-- (i) a schedule containing full particulars of all his debts, whether owed jointly or individually, with the names and addresses of his creditors and joint-debtors, if any, so far as they are known to, or can by the exercise of reasonable care and diligence be ascertained by him; (ii) a schedule of all his properties, both movable and immovable (including claims due to him) which are not liable to attachment either under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, (5 of 1908) as amended by section 31 of this Act or under any other law for the time being in force, a specification of the values thereof and of the places where the same may be found; (iii) a schedule of all his properties, both movable and immovable (including claims due to him) which are not included in the schedule under item (ii) of this clause; and (iv) a schedule of all his properties in respect of which a claim has been submitted to the registering officer under the Displaced Persons (Claims) Act, 1950, (44 of 1950) and, where any order has been passed in relation to the verification and valuation of the claim under that Act, with a certified copy of the order.

(3) All persons whose names are shown in any schedule as having claims against the displaced debtor and all persons whose names are shown as joint-debtors shall be deemed to be the respondents to the application and there shall be filed along with the application, or with the permission of the Tribunal at any later stage of the proceedings, as many copies of the application and as many envelopes and notices in the prescribed form duly addressed to the respondents as there are respondents.

Rejection of application in certain cases. 6. Rejection of application in certain cases. Where an application made under section 5 does not comply with any of the requirements of that section, the Tribunal may either reject it, or grant to the applicant such further time as it thinks fit to comply with such requirements. 66

Issue of notice. 7. Issue of notice. If the application is not rejected under section 6, the Tribunal shall, after causing the date for the hearing of the application to be entered in the notices referred to in section 5, cause them to be served on the respondents.

Objection by respondents. 8. Objection by respondents. In response to a notice under section 7, the respondent may show cause against the application by filing a written statement containing his objections to the application: Provided that where he does not appear in person or through any authorized agent, the written statement may be sent by registered post, acknowledgment due, to the Tribunal after having been signed in the presence of a civil judicial officer or a Magistrate or any other prescribed officer and duly attested by such officer or Magistrate.

Proceeding after service of notice on respondents.

9. Proceeding after service of notice on respondents. (1) If there is a dispute as to whether the applicant is a displaced person or not or as to the existence or the amount of the debt due to any creditor or the assets of any displaced debtor, the Tribunal shall decide the matter after taking such evidence as may be adduced by all the parties concerned and shall pass such decree in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

(2) If there is no such dispute or if the respondents do not appear or have no objection to the application being granted, the Tribunal may, after considering the evidence placed before it, pass such decree in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

Claims by creditors against displaced debtors. 10. Claims by creditors against displaced debtors. Any displaced person having a claim against a displaced debtor may make an application, in such form as may be prescribed, for the determination thereof to the Tribunal within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the displaced debtor actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gain, together with a statement of the debts owed to the creditor with full particulars thereof.

Procedure on creditor's petition.

11. Procedure on creditor's petition. (1) Where an application under section 10 has been made, the Tribunal shall cause notice thereof to be served on the displaced debtor calling upon him either to show cause, if any, against the application or to make an application on his own behalf under section 5.

(2) If, in response to a notice under sub-section (1), the displaced debtor makes an application in accordance with the provisions of section 5, the Tribunal shall proceed further in the matter as if it had commenced with an application by the displaced debtor under section 67 5, and all the other provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly; but, if the displaced debtor does not choose to make any such application, the Tribunal shall, after considering such evidence, if any, as may be produced before it, determine the claim and pass such decree in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

(3) The period of limitation specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 in respect of an application by a displaced debtor shall not

apply to an application made under sub-section (2).

Objection by creditor to schedule of assets.

12. Objection by creditor to schedule of assets. (1) Any creditor of a displaced debtor may make an application to the Tribunal stating that the displaced debtor, who has made an application under section 5

or sub-section (2) of section 11, has concealed any part of his assets, and the Tribunal shall, after giving due notice thereof to the displaced debtor, determine the matter.

(2) If the Tribunal finds that the displaced debtor has wilfully and fraudulently omitted to include such assets in his application, the Tribunal may dismiss the application or refuse to allow to the displaced debtor any of the reliefs under this Act to which he would otherwise have been entitled or pass such other order in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

Claims by displaced creditors against persons who are not displaceddebtors. 13. Claims by displaced creditors against persons who are not displaced debtors. At any time within one year after the date on which this Act comes into force in any local area, any displaced creditor claiming a debt from any other person who is not a displaced person may make an application, in such form as may be prescribed, to the Tribunal within the local limits of whose jurisdiction he or the respondent or, if there are more respondents than one, any of such respondents, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business or personally works for gain, together with a statement of the debt owing to him with full particulars thereof.

Procedure on displaced creditor's petition.

14. Procedure on displaced creditor's petition. (1) Where an application under section 13 has been made to the Tribunal, the Tribunal shall cause notice thereof to be given to the debtor, calling upon him to show cause, if any, against the application.

(2) If there is a dispute as to whether the applicant is a displaced creditor or not or as to the existence of the debt or as to the amount thereof, the Tribunal shall decide the matter, after taking such evidence as may be produced before it, and pass such decree in relation thereto as it thinks fit. 68

(3) If there is no such dispute or if the debtor does not appear or has no cause to show, the Tribunal may, after considering the evidence placed before it, pass such decree in relation thereto as it thinks fit.

Consequences of application by displaced debtor. 15. Consequences of application by displaced debtor. Where a displaced debtor has made an application to the Tribunal under section

5 or under sub-section (2) of section 11, the following consequences shall ensue, namely:-- (a) all proceedings pending at the date of the said application in any Civil Court in respect of any debt to which the displaced debtor is subject (except proceedings by way of appeal or review or revision against decrees or orders passed against the displaced debtor) shall be stayed, and the records of all such proceedings other than those relating to the appeals, reviews or revisions as aforesaid shall be transferred to the Tribunal and consolidated; (b) all attachments, injunctions, orders appointing receivers or other processes issued by any such Court and in force at the date of the said application in respect of any such debt shall cease to have effect and no fresh process shall, except as hereinafter expressly provided, be issued: Provided that where an order appointing a receiver ceases to have effect under this section, the receiver shall; within fourteen days from the date on which his appointment ceases to have effect or within such further time as the Tribunal may in any case allow, submit to the Tribunal instead of to the Court which appointed him his outstanding accounts, and the Tribunal shall, in relation to such accounts, have the same powers with respect to the receiver as the Court which appointed him had or could have had; (c) no fresh suit or other proceeding [other than any such appeal, review or revision as is referred to in clause (a)] shall be instituted against a displaced debtor in respect of any debt mentioned by him in the relevant schedule to his application: (d) any immovable property belonging to the displaced debtor and liable to attachment shall not be transferred except under the authority of the Tribunal and no such terms as it thinks fit, until the application of the displaced debtor has been finally disposed of or any decree passed against 69 him is satisfied in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Debts secured on immovable property.

16. Debts secured on immovable property. (1) Where a debt incurred by a displaced person is secured by a mortgage, charge or lien on the immovable property belonging to him in West Pakistan, the Tribunal may, for the purpose of any proceeding under this Act, require the creditor to elect to retain the security or to be treated as an unsecured creditor.

(2) If the creditor elects to retain the security, he may apply to the Tribunal, having jurisdiction in this behalf as provided in section 10, for a declaration of the amount due under his debt.

(3) Where in any case, the creditor elects to retain his security, if the displaced debtor received any compensation in respect

of any such property as is referred to in sub-section (1), the creditor shall be entitled-- (a) Where the compensation is paid in cash, to a first charge thereon: Provided that the amount of the debt in respect of which he shall be entitled to the first charge shall be that amount as bears to the total debt the same proportion as the compensation paid in respect of the property bears to the value of the verified claim in respect thereof and to that extent the debt shall be deemed to have been reduced: (b) Where the compensation is by way of exchange of property, to a first charge on the property situate in India so received by way of exchange: Provided that the amount of the debt in respect of which be shall be entitled to the first charge shall be that amount as bears to the total debt the same proportion as the value of the property received by way of exchange bears to the value of the verified claim in respect thereof and to that extent the debt shall be deemed to have been reduced.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where a debt is secured by a mortgage of agricultural lands belonging to a displaced person in West Pakistan and the mortgage was with possession, the mortgagee shall, if he has been allotted lands in India in lieu of the lands of which he was in possession in West Pakistan, be entitled 70 to continue in possession of the lands so allotted until the debt is satisfied from the usufruct of the lands or is redeemed by the debtor: Provided that in either case the amount of the debt shall be only that amount as bears to the total debt the same proportion as the value of the lands allotted to the creditor in India bears to the value of the lands left behind by him in West Pakistan and to that extent the debt shall be deemed to have been reduced.

(5) Where a creditor elects to be treated as an unsecured creditor in relation to the debt, the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.

Debts secured on movable property.

17. Debts secured on movable property. (1) Where in respect of a debt incurred by a displaced debtor and secured by the pledge of movable property belonging to him, the creditor had been placed in possession of such property at any time before the debtor became a displaced person, the following rules shall regulate the rights and liabilities of the creditor and the debtor, namely:- (a) the creditor may, if he is still in possession of the pledged property, realise the sum due to him by the sale of such property after giving to the debtor reasonable notice of the sale: (b) the creditor shall not be entitled, in any case where the pledged property is no longer in his possession or is not available for redemption by the debtor to recover from the debtor the debt or any part thereof for which the pledged property was security: (c) the debtor shall not be liable, in the case of a sale by the creditor of any pledged property, whether under clause (a) or otherwise, to pay the balance where the proceeds of such sale are less than the amount of the debt due: (d) the creditor shall, in any case where the proceeds of the sale of the pledged property are greater than the amount of the debt due, pay over the surplus to the debtor. Explanation I.-For the purposes of this section, the creditor shall be deemed to be in possession of the pledged property in any case in which the pledged property, although not delivered to him was delivered to a person authorized by him or was being held by the debtor on behalf of the creditor, and the ownership of possession thereof could not have been transferred to a third party without the express consent or permission of the creditor. 71 Explanation II.-Where any motor vehicle or other movable property has been purchased with money the whole or any part of which has been advanced by a creditor who retains the ownership thereof by way of security but allows the debtor to use it with his permission, the property shall for the purposes of this section be deemed to be pledged property of the debtor in the possession of the creditor.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the creditor shall be entitled to receive, and to give a valid discharge in respect of, any sum due under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force from an insurance company in respect of any claim arising out of the loss or destruction of the pledged property, but the creditor shall, in any case where the sum received from the insurance company is greater than the amount of the debt due to him, pay over the surplus to the debtor.

Claims against insurance companies.

18. Claims against insurance companies. (1) Where any property in West Pakistan belonging to a displaced person was insured with any insurance company before the 15th day of August, 1947, against any risk arising out of fire or theft or riot and civil commotion and there has been a loss in respect of such property arising out of any such risk at a time when the contract of insurance was in force, such company shall not be entitled to refuse payment of the sum due under any claim in relation thereto on the ground that-- (a) no report was lodged with the police within the agreed time, or (b) the claim was not made to the company with the agreed time, or (c) in the case of a policy covering any risk arising out of riot and civil commotion, the disturbances in West Pakistan were not in the nature of a riot or civil commotion, or (d) the displaced person has not fulfilled any other condition of the contract which in the opinion of the Central government is of a technical nature and which the Central Government has, by notification 1* in the Official Gazette, specified as a condition of the contract for the purposes of this section, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 See notification No. S.R.O. 350, dated February 13, 1953; Gazette of India, 1953, Pt. II, Sec. 3, p. 239. 72 and any contract to the contrary, to the extent to which it is in contravention of the provisions of this sub-section, shall be deemed to have had no effect.

(2) Where a loss has been incurred in respect of any property in

the circumstances specified in sub-section (1), the Tribunal shall, in every proceeding where it is necessary to do so, determine respectively the amount of the loss, the amount for which the property was insured on the date of such loss, and the amount, if any, paid by the insurance company, and shall make a report thereof to such board or other authority as may be prescribed, and the prescribed board or other authority shall, after taking into account such matters as may be prescribed as being relevant thereto, and subject to any rules made in this behalf, in turn propose to the Tribunal the amount for which the claim against the insurance company shall be decreed, and the Tribunal shall pass a decree accordingly.

(3) The amount realised from the insurance company under any

decree passed under sub-section (2) shall first be applied towards the satisfaction of the debt due from the displaced person, and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the displaced person.

(4) An application under this section may be made either by a displaced person having a claim against the insurance company in the

circumstances specified in sub-section (1) or by an assignee or any other person having an interest in the claim of any such displaced person, to the Tribunal within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the displaced person actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain or, in the case of a displaced bank making an application under this section, within whose limits the bank carries on business, for the determination of the amount due in respect of the claim in accordance with the provisions of sub-section

(2).

(5) To every proceeding under sub-section (4) the insurance company and all persons interested in the claim shall be made parties: Provided that the Tribunal may at any stage of the proceeding direct that the name of any person whose presence before the Tribunal may be necessary in order to enable the Tribunal effectually and completely to adjudicate upon and settle all the questions involved, be added to the proceeding.

(6) No application under this section shall be entertained in any case where no claim has been made to the insurance company within one year after the date of the loss. 73 Explanation.-A claim shall be deemed to have been made within the meaning of this sub-section if intimation thereof has been given to the insurance company within one year after the date of the loss notwithstanding that the intimation does not specify the amount of the claim or is not in the form, if any, required by the contract of insurance or in any other specified form.

Calls on shares in companies.

19. Calls on shares in companies. (1) Where a company or a co- operative society has made any call upon a displaced person or a displaced bank in respect of any moneys remaining unpaid on any share held by him or it on the 15th day of August, 1947, in the company or co-operative society, as the case may be, and there has been a failure on the part of the shareholder to pay any moneys due in respect of such call, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, or in the memorandum or articles of association or the Co-operative Societies Act, no interest shall be payable in respect of any such moneys due and the company or the co-operative society, as the case may be, shall not be entitled to forfeit the share or any part thereof, and any forfeiture made before the commencement of this Act in respect of any share in the circumstances specified in the sub-section shall be deemed to have had no effect, and no person shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the company or co-operative society merely by reason of such forfeiture.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, or in the memorandum or articles of association, or the Co-operative Societies Act, it shall be lawful for a displaced person or a displaced bank to apply to the company or the co-operative society, as the case may be, for the conversion of any partly paid-up share held by him or it in the company or society into such smaller number of fully paid-up shares as the society or company may have issued and in respect of which calls have already been made.

(3) Where any share forfeited before the commencement of this Act has been disposed of by the company in accordance with its articles of association and it is not possible for the company to give to the displaced person the relief to which he is entitled under this section without increasing its capital, the capital of the company shall be deemed to have been increased to the extent to which it is necessary to provide that relief.

(4) If the company or the co-operative society refuses to comply with any such request as is contained in an application under sub-

section (2), the Tribunal may, on application made to it in this behalf 74 and if satisfied that there is no cause for such refusal, issue a direction to the company or the co-operative society accordingly, and the company or society shall be bound to comply therewith and every such direction shall take effect from the date thereof.

(5) Save as otherwise provided in this section, nothing contained herein shall affect the validity of any action taken by the company or its board of directors in pursuance of the provisions of the Companies Act or of the memorandum or articles of association relating to the company.

(6) The provisions of this section shall have effect for a period of ten years from the 15th day of August, 1947, and thereafter shall cease to have effect except as respects things done or omitted to be done.

No calls to be made on displaced person or bank when company or co-operative society is in liquidation. 20. No calls to be made on displaced person or bank when company

or co-operative society is in liquidation. (1) Where a company or a co-operative society is being wound up, no displaced person or displaced bank shall be called upon, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act or in the memorandum or articles of association or the Co-operative Societies Act, to make any contribution to the assets of the company or co-operative society, as the case may be, in respect of any share held by him or it in the company or society on the 15th day of August, 1947.

(2) The provisions of this section shall have effect for a period of ten years from the 15th day of August, 1947, and shall also apply in respect of any calls made and not satisfied before that date, and shall cease to have effect after the expiry of the said period except as respects things done or omitted to be done.

Power to revise certain decree and settlement.

21. Power to revise certain decree and settlement. (1) Where, before the commencement of this Act, a decree has been passed by a Civil court against, or a settlement has been entered into by, a displaced debtor in respect of any debt, the Tribunal shall, on the application of such debtor revise it so as to bring it into accord with the provisions of the Act.

(2) In determining the amount due under any such decree or settlement, the Tribunal shall accept as binding the findings of the Court which passed the decree or the facts contained in the settlement, as the case may be, to the extent to which the findings or the facts are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act: Provided that the Tribunal shall not determine any claim under any such decree until any appeal or revision filed against it has been finally decided or the period allowed for any appeal therefrom has 75 expired, and in all such cases the finding of the Tribunal shall be based on the final decree.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no Tribunal shall in respect of any debt revise any settlement arrived at before the commencement of this Act between an insurance company and a displaced person or between an insurance company and a displaced bank having an interest in the claim of a displaced person against the insurance company and arriving at such settlement by virtue of that interest: Provided that payment in full has been made in pursuance of such settlement.

Apportionment of joint debts. 22. Apportionment of joint debts. Where a debt is due from a displaced person jointly with another person, the Tribunal shall, for the purposes of this Act, apportion the liability between them according to the following rules, namely:-- (a) if the liability of each debtor is defined, then according to the defined share of each; (b) if the debt was taken for any trade or business of the joint debtors, then according to the shares held by each of the joint debtors in the trade or business; (c) if the debt was not taken in any defined shares or for any trade or business in which the partners have any defined share, the debt shall be apportioned into as many parts as there are joint debtors, and each joint debtor shall be liable only for the part apportioned to him; (d) if one joint debtor is a displaced person and another is not, the sum apportioned to the non-displaced person shall not be deemed to be a debt within the meaning of this Act and the creditor may in respect of such debt seek any remedy open to him in a Civil court or otherwise; (e) if the debt was taken by a joint Hindu family, the members of the joint Hindu family shall be deemed to be joint debtors within the meaning of this section and the debt shall be apportioned amongst the members thereof in the same proportion in which shares would be allotted to them on partition: Provided that the share of any member of such a joint family any of whose male lineal ascendants in the male line of ascent is alive and joint with such 76 member shall be deemed to be included in the share of his oldest surviving ascendant in the male line of ascent, and such member shall not be separately regarded as a joint debtor for the purpose of this clause; (f) if the liability is secured by a mortgage of movable and immovable properties, the debt shall be apportioned between the two properties in the same proportion as the value of each property bears to the total value of the properties; Explanation.-For the purposes of this clause, the value of the movable property shall be deemed to be the value thereof immediately before the date on which the debtor became a displaced person, and the value of the immovable property shall be deemed to be the value of the verified claim in respect thereof; (g) Where the relationship between the joint debtors is that of principal and surety, nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the institution of a suit for the recovery of the debt against the surety but no decree shall be passed in such suit for an amount in excess of the amount decreed or which can be decreed against the principal debtor in accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided that the total amount which may be recovered from the principal debtor and the surety shall not exceed the amount decreed or which can be decreed by the Tribunal against the principal debtor in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Simplified procedure in certain cases. 23. Simplified procedure in certain cases. In the determination of any individual debt which does not exceed five thousand rupees,-- (a) it shall not be necessary for the Tribunal to take down the evidence of the witnesses in writing at length but the Tribunal, as the examination of each witness proceeds, shall make a memorandum of the substance of what he deposes and such memorandum shall be written and signed by the Tribunal and shall form part of the record; (b) the decision of the Tribunal need not contain more than the points for determination and the decision thereon. 77

Presumption respecting registered documents. 24. Presumption respecting registered documents. It shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that any document registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908) or any certified copy thereof and produced before the Tribunal has been proved.

Application of Act 5 of 1908. 25. Application of Act 5 of 1908. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or in any rules made thereunder, all proceedings under this Act shall be regulated by the provisions contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).

Signing and verification of applications and written statements. 26. Signing and verification of applications and written statements. Every application and the schedules, if any, attached thereto and every written statement filed before the Tribunal for any relief under this Act shall be signed and verified in the manner prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for the signing and verification of pleadings.

Contents of decrees. 27. Contents of decrees. In all cases in which the Tribunal passes a decree on the application of a displaced person, it shall prepare a complete schedule of the creditors and of the assets and liabilities of the displaced person.

Execution of decrees. 28. Execution of decrees. It shall be competent for the Civil Court which has been specified as the Tribunal for the purposes of this Act to execute any decree or order passed by it as the Tribunal in the same manner as it could have done if it were a decree or order passed by it as a Civil Court. CHAP RELIEFS CHAPTER III RELIEFS

Cesser of accrual of interest.

29. Cesser of accrual of interest. (1) On and from the 15th day of August, 1947, no interest shall accrue or be deemed to have accrued in respect of any debt owed by a displaced person, and no Tribunal shall allow any future interest in respect of any decree or order passed by it: Provided that-- (a) where the debt is secured by the pledge of shares, stocks, Government securities of a local authority, the Tribunal shall allow, for the period commencing from the 15th day of August, 1947, and ending with the date of commencement of this Act, interest to the creditor at the rate mutually agreed upon or at a rate at which any dividend or interest has been paid or is payable in respect thereof, whichever is less; 78 (b) in any other case the Tribunal may, if it thinks it just and proper to do so after taking into account the paying capacity of the debtor as defined in section 32, allow, for the period mentioned in clause (a), interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum simple.

(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to the interest payable in respect of any moneys advanced by a creditor, including an insurance company, on the security of a policy of life insurance of a displaced debtor in order to keep it alive.

Exemption from arrest. 30. Exemption from arrest. No displaced person shall be liable to arrest or imprisonment in execution of any decree for the recovery of any debt whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act.

Further reliefs in the matter of attachment of property. 31. Further reliefs in the matter of attachment of property. Section 60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall, in relation to the execution of any decree for a debt against a displaced person (whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act), have effect, as if--

(1) for clause (c) of the proviso to sub-section (1), the following clauses had been substituted, namely:-- "(c) houses and other buildings (with the materials and the sites thereof and the land immediately appertaining thereto and necessary for their enjoyment) belonging to an agriculturist and not proved by the decree-holder to have been let out on rent or otherwise to any person other than the father, mother, wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, sister or other dependant of the judgment-debtor or to have been left vacant for a period of one year or more; (cc) milch animals, whether in milk or in calf, kids, animals used for the purpose of transport or draught cart and open spaces or enclosures belonging to an agriculturist and required for use in case of need for tying cattle, parking carts or stacking fodder or manure; (ccc) one main residential house and other buildings attached to it (with the materials and the sites thereof and the land immediately appertaining thereto and necessary for their enjoyment) belonging to a judgment-debtor other than an agriculturist and occupied by him"; 79

(2) in clause (i), for the words "hundred rupees" the words "two hundred and fifty rupees" had been substituted;

(3) after clause (p), the following had been inserted, namely:-- "(q) two-thirds of the agricultural produce of the judgment-debtor; (r) so much of any other property of the judgment- debtor as constitutes the means of his livelihood and as is likely, in the opinion of the Court, to yield to him an income of not less than two hundred and fifty rupees a month; (s) any loan advanced or agreed to be advanced by or on behalf of or out of the funds of the Central Government or a State Government, or any asset created from any such loan;" Explanation.-Where any such asset as is referred to in clause (s) has been created partly from such loan and partly from the private funds of the judgment-debtor, that portion of the asset which has been created from the private funds shall, if severable from the remaining portion, be liable to attachment or sale.

Scaling down of debts.

32. Scaling down of debts. (1) Where, on the application of a

displaced debtor under section 5 or sub-section (2) of section 11, the Tribunal has determined the amount due in respect of each debt in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall proceed to determine the paying capacity of the debtor.

(2) If the paying capacity of the debtor is equal to or exceeds the aggregate sum of all the debts so determined (exclusive of any debt in respect of which the creditor has elected to retain the security in accordance with the provisions of section 16), the Tribunal shall pass a decree for the aggregate sum so determined, specifying the amount due to each creditor and shall allow repayment thereof in instalments, in accordance with the provisions contained in section 33, unless for reasons to be recorded it directs otherwise.

(3) If the paying capacity of the debtor is less than the

aggregate sum referred to in sub-section (2), the Tribunal shall divide the decree into two parts and provide in the first part thereof (hereinafter referred to as the first part of the decree) that the sum equivalent to the paying capacity shall, subject to the provisions contained in section 33, be realised from the assets of the debtor in India, and provide in the 80 second part thereof (hereinafter referred to as the second part of the decree) that the balance shall be realised, subject to the provisions

contained in sub-section (6), from any compensation which the debtor may receive: Provided that if no such compensation is received, the balance shall be irrecoverable.

(4) A creditor who has elected to retain his security under section 16 shall have no right to realise any money due to him from the assets of the debtor in India, but nothing in this sub-section shall affect any of the rights given to him by section 16.

(5) A creditor shall have the right at any time at least six months before the receipt by the debtor of compensation to apply that the whole or the balance of the first part of the decree, in so far as any debt due to him is concerned, may be added to the second part of the decree, and thereupon he shall have no right to realise any money from the assets of the debtor in India.

(6) For the purposes of this Act, the amount payable from the compensation for the satisfaction of the second part of the decree shall be that amount as bears to the aggregate amount of all the debts in the second part of the decree [including therein any sum added to

it under sub-section (5) and the sum determined in favour of the secured creditor in the manner specified in the proviso to clause (a)

of sub-section (3) of section 16] as the compensation in respect of the property of the debtor payable to him under the Displaced Persons (Claims) Act, 1950 (44 of 1950) bears to the verified claim; and the balance of the compensation, if any, shall be refunded to the displaced debtor.

(7) Every instalment paid by the displaced debtor in respect of the first part of the decree and any sum payable from the compensation

in accordance with sub-section (6) shall be distributed rateably amongst the decree-holders, if more persons than one are entitled thereto: Provided that the secured creditor who has not elected to be treated as an unsecured creditor under section 16 shall be entitled to a prior charge on the amount payable from the compensation.

(8) Where a displaced person receives compensation by way of exchange of property, then, subject to the prior charge, if any, of a creditor under section 16, the aggregate sum payable in respect of the second part of the decree shall be a second charge upon the property received by way of exchange, but the amount of the second charge shall be that amount as bears to the total sum the same proportion as the value of the property received by way of exchange bears to the 81 value of the original property verified and valued under the Displaced Persons (Claims) Act, 1950 (44 of 1950).

(9) Where a displaced person makes a default in the payment of any instalment fixed in respect of the first part of the decree or

does not pay the amount determined in accordance with sub-section (4)

of section 16 or sub-section (8) of this section for which the first or the second charge may have been created upon the property received by way of exchange, the creditor may apply for the execution of the decree by the attachment and sale of the attachable assets of the judgment-debtor or by the sale of the property obtained by way of exchange upon which the charge has been created, as the case may be, and the amount realised by such execution shall be distributed rateably among the decree-holders: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the rights of any charge-holders.

(10) For the purposes of this Act, where the compensation is paid in cash, the amount which shall be available for purposes of satisfaction of the debts in the second part of the decree shall in no case exceed seventy-five per cent. of the amount of such compensation; and where it is by way of exchange or property, the extent of the property which shall be available for the said purposes shall in no case exceed seventy-five per cent. in value of such property. Explanation.-In this section the expression "paying capacity" means the aggregate of the market value of all the attachable assets in India of the displaced debtor plus the income which is likely to accrue to him for the next three years succeeding, excluding from the computation of such income a sum calculated at the rate of two hundred and fifty rupees a month.

Matters to be taken into account in directing payment by instalments. 33. Matters to be taken into account in directing payment by

instalments. (1) In directing payment of any sums by instalments under the first part of the decree, the Tribunal shall take into account among other matters- (a) the present income of the displaced debtor from all sources and the income that is likely to accrue to him in future; (b) the size of the family dependant upon him for the ordinary necessaries of life and the expenditure likely to be incurred for the education and marriage of the children of the displaced person dependant upon him.

(2) Where a displaced creditor is a minor, or a widow or a person who, by reason of any physical disability, is permanently disabled from 82 earning his livelihood, the Tribunal may direct that any instalment payable to him or her shall be twenty-five per cent. higher than what would otherwise have been directed to be paid, and where it does so, it shall also direct that the instalments of other decree-holders shall be proportionately reduced.

Variation of maintenance allowances. 34. Variation of maintenance allowances. Where a displaced debtor has been ordered to pay an allowance periodically to any person for his maintenance under any decree or order of a Court, or is liable to pay such allowance under any agreement voluntarily entered into, the rate at which such allowance is payable may be varied by the Tribunal on application made to it in his behalf, if in view of the change in the circumstances of the displaced debtor, the Tribunal thinks that such variation is necessary, and such variation shall have effect for such period as the Tribunal may direct, notwithstanding anything in any decree, order or agreement to the contrary.

Taxation of lawyer's fees. 35. Taxation of lawyer's fees. In directing payment of costs by any person as costs in respect of fees to any legal practitioner employed in any proceeding before it, the Tribunal shall be guided by any rules for the time being in force regulating the payment of such costs in proceedings of a similar nature before the ordinary Civil Courts, and shall not award more than one-half of what in its opinion the costs before the Civil court would have been.

Extension of period of limitation. 36. Extension of period of limitation. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) or in any special or local law or in any agreement,-- (a) any suit or other legal proceeding in respect whereof the period of limitation was extended by section 8 of the Displaced Persons (Institution of Suits) Act, 1948 1* (47 of 1948), and (b) any suit or other legal proceeding for the enforcement of a claim against an insurance company not falling within the provisions of clause (a) in respect whereof the cause of action had arisen, whether wholly or in part, in the territories now situate in West Pakistan and the institution of the suit or other legal proceeding has become barred by reason of a condition in the contract, which, but for the condition, would have been governed by the provisions obtained in clause (a), ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Since lapsed. 83 may be instituted at any time within one year from the commencement of this Act.

Curtailment of period of limitation for execution of certain decrees. 37. Curtailment of period of limitation for execution of certain decrees. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 48 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or in any other law for the time being in force, no order for the execution of a decree in respect of a debt against a displaced person shall be made upon an application presented after the expiration of-- (a) in the case of decrees passed before the commencement of this Act, six years from such commencement; (b) in the case of decrees passed after the commencement of this Act, six years from the date of the decrees; (c) in the case of decrees directing payment of money to be made at prescribed intervals or on certain dates, six years from the date of default in making the payment in respect of which the decree-holder seeks to have the decree executed: Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as extending the limit of time for execution as provided in section 48 of the said Code for an application for the execution of a decree passed before the commencement of this Act.

Sale of immovable property in execution.

38. Sale of immovable property in execution. (1) Where in the execution of any decree for the recovery of a debt against a displaced person his immovable property is sought to be sold, the Court executing the decree shall, in the first instance, determine the market value of the property and, if the value so determined is less than or equal to the amount of the decree together with the proportionate amount of any prior encumbrance, the Court shall transfer the property to the decree-holder.

(2) If the value determined under sub-section (1) is greater than the amount of the decree together with the proportionate amount of any prior encumbrance, the Court shall determine the portion of such property the value of which is equal to the amount of the decree with proportionate amount of such prior encumbrance, and may, if it is reasonable or convenient to do so, transfer that portion to the decree-holder.

(3) Where any property is transferred under the provisions of this section to the decree-holder, the decree shall be deemed to be satisfied to the extent of the value of the property so transferred: Provided that if the decree-holder does not desire to take the property or, in the opinion of the Court, it is not reasonable or convenient 84 to transfer the property to him, the property may be sold by public auction, but irrespective of the price fetched at the public auction the market value of the property as determined under this section (and not the amount payable to the decree-holder out of the sale proceeds of the public auction) shall be deemed to be the amount which has been paid to the decree-holder in respect of the decree, and satisfaction thereof shall be entered accordingly.

Encouragement of settlements. 39. Encouragement of settlements. If the displaced debtor and the creditor or, where there are more creditors than one, such number thereof as hold more than two-thirds in value of the debts due from the displaced debtor enter into an agreement for the adjustment of the liabilities, the Tribunal shall, if an application is made to it in this behalf, after giving due notice to the other creditors affected, adjust the remaining debts accordingly if the terms of the agreement are just and fair, and pass a decree accordingly. CHAP APPEALS CHAPTER IV APPEALS

General provisions relating to appeals. 40. General provisions relating to appeals. Save as otherwise provided in section 41, an appeal shall lie from-- (a) any final decree or order of the Tribunal, or (b) any order made in the course of execution of any decree or order of the Tribunal, which if passed in the course of execution of a decree or order of a Civil Court would be appealable under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908). to the High Court within the limits of whose jurisdiction the Tribunal is situate.

Restrictions on right of appeal in certain cases. 41. Restrictions on right of appeal in certain cases. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 40, where the subject- matter of the appeal relates to the amount of a debt and such amount on appeal is less than rupees five thousand, no appeal shall lie.

Parties to appeals. 42. Parties to appeals. For the purpose of any appeal under this Act, it shall be sufficient if only such persons as, in the opinion of the appellant, are necessary parties to the appeal for the purpose of determining the real questions in controversy between them, are impleaded as respondents to the appeal: Provided that where it appears to the High Court at the hearing that any person who was a party to the proceeding before the Tribunal 85 from whose decree the appeal is preferred but who has not been made a party to the appeal is interested in the result of the appeal, the Court may adjourn the hearing to a future date to be fixed by the Court and direct that such person be made a respondent. CHAP MISCELLANEOUS CHAPTER V MISCELLANEOUS

Registration of certain societies and companies under Indian law. 43. Registration of certain societies and companies under Indian

law. (1) Where the registered office of any society or company registered before the 15th day of August, 1947, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law then in force in any Province for the registration of co-operative societies or the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913), is situated in the territory now forming part of West Pakistan but a majority of its members for the time being are resident in India, or, in the case of a company, more than thirty-three and one-third per cent. of its shares in value are being held by persons resident in India, the society, or company, as the case may be, may apply within one year from the commencement of this Act to the Registrar of Societies, Co-operative Societies or Companies, as the case may be, within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the majority of the members of the governing body reside or carry on business, for the recognition of the society or company as such in India.

(2) The Registrar, after making such inquiry into the matter as he deems fit, may either accord such recognition or refuse to do so.

(3) An appeal shall lie from the order of the Registrar under

sub-section (2) to the State Government and no order passed by the Registrar or by the State Government on appeal shall be called in question in any Court.

(4) Where the Registrar accords recognition to a society, co- operative society or company, he shall cause necessary entries thereof to be made in his register and thereupon, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force or in any instrument, the society or the company, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been formed and registered under the relevant law as in force in India, and every such society or company shall, among other matters, have the right to demand and receive any moneys due to it from any person residing or carrying on business in India.

Bar of further applications in certain cases. 44. Bar of further applications in certain cases. Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, where an application made by a displaced debtor under section 5 or under 86

sub-section (2) of section 11, or by a displaced creditor under section 13 has been dismissed, no further application for the same purpose shall lie.

Amendment of applications. 45. Amendment of applications. Clerical or arithmetical mistakes in any application or in any schedule annexed thereto arising from any accidental slip or omission may at any time be corrected by the Tribunal, either of its own motion or on the application of any of the parties.

Service of notices. 46. Service of notices. Every notice issued under this Act shall be served by registered post, acknowledgment due, unless the Tribunal for reasons to be recorded, directs service in any of the other modes specified in Order V of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).

Effect of failure on the part of displaced debtor to disclose certainmatters. 47. Effect of failure on the part of displaced debtor to disclose certain matters. Where a displaced debtor has not mentioned in the relevant schedule to his application any debt owing by him or any property, movable or immovable, belonging to him, whether such property is liable to attachment or not liable to attachment at all, nothing contained in this Act shall prevent-- (a) in the case of the debt, the creditor from instituting any proceeding for the recovery thereof under any law for the time being in force other than this Act; and (b) in the case of the property, from being attached or otherwise dealt with under any such law.

Proceedings not to abate on death of debtor. 48. Proceedings not to abate on death of debtor. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no proceeding before a Tribunal shall be deemed to abate by reason merely of the death of the debtor who is a party to the proceeding, and a decree may be passed notwithstanding the death and such decree shall have the same force and effect as if it had been passed before the death took place: Provided that the Tribunal on an application made in that behalf, shall cause the legal representative of the deceased debtor to be made a party to the proceeding, and any person so made a party may make any defence appropriate to his character as legal representative of the deceased debtor: Provided further that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render the legal representative of the deceased debtor liable to satisfy the decree except to the extent to which any of the assets of the deceased debtor have devolved on him. 87

Past transactions not to be affected.

49. Past transactions not to be affected. (1) If before the commencement of this Act a displaced debtor has satisfied or discharged any of his liabilities in any manner whatsoever, such transactions shall not be affected by anything contained in this Act.

(2) Where the Tribunal has determined the amount due in respect of any debt in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any payments (including payments by way of interest) made by the displaced debtor towards the debt prior to such determination shall be adjusted towards the amount so determined: Provided that no creditor shall be called upon to refund any amount paid to him if it is found that it is in excess of the amount determined as being due to him under this Act.

Displaced debtor not to be deemed insolvent. 50. Displaced debtor not to be deemed insolvent. Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force relating to insolvency, no displace debtor shall be deemed to be insolvent or to have been adjudicated as such within the meaning of any law for the time being in force relating to insolvency by reason only of his applying to get his debts adjusted under this Act, and no petition in insolvency shall lie against a displaced debtor in respect of any debt incurred by him before the 15th day of August, 1947.

Compromises or arrangements between banks and their debtors not to bereopened in certain cases. 51. Compromises or arrangements between banks and their debtors not to be reopened in certain cases. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no compromise or arrangement arrived at, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, between a displaced debtor and a bank relating to the repayment, discharge or satisfaction of any debt owing by the displaced debtor to the bank shall be reopened by the Tribunal, and nothing contained in this Act shall affect any such compromise or arrangement: Provided that there is in force in respect of the bank a compromise or arrangement between it and its own creditors or any class of such creditors which has been duly sanctioned by the Court under section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913): and Provided further that the particulars specified in clauses (c),

(cc), (ccc), (i), (q), (r), and (s) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), as amended by section 31 of this Act, shall not be liable to attachment or sale in any proceeding against the displaced debtor.

Communication of contents of decrees to prescribed authority. 52. Communication of contents of decrees to prescribed authority.

(1) Every Tribunal shall communicate to the prescribed authority, in such manner as may be prescribed, the amount of the prior 88

charge declared under sub-section (3) of section 16, and shall also forward to it a copy of the decree passed on the application of a

displaced debtor under section 5 or sub-section (2) of section 11 and

also of any order passed under sub-section (5) of section 32, specifying the amount due to the creditor mentioned therein on the date of the order.

(2) The prescribed authority shall scale down the debts reported

to him in accordance with sub-section (6) of section 32 and shall, subject to any rules made in this behalf, meet the prior charge of the

secured creditor in accordance with sub-section (2) of section 16 in the first instance and thereafter distribute the balance of the compensation available for distribution within the meaning of sub-

section (10) of section 32 rateably amongst the other decree-holders whose decrees have been reported to him: Provided that in making any such rateable distribution the prescribed authority shall have due regard to the provisions contained

in sub-section (2) of section 33.

(3) The balance from the amount of the compensation payable shall be refunded to the displaced debtor.

(4) Any amount paid by the prescribed authority to any decree- holder under the provisions of this section shall, to that extent, be a valid discharge of the debt due by the displaced debtor.

Application of the Limitation Act. 53. Application of the Limitation Act. Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) shall apply to the institution of any proceeding under this Act, and, for the purpose of determining and computing the period of limitation prescribed by that Act in relation thereto, every application made under this Act shall be deemed to be a suit for the purpose of that Act.

Order XXX VIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedurenot to apply. 54. Order XXX VIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure not to apply. Nothing contained in Order XXXVIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to arrest and attachment before judgment, shall apply to any proceeding under this Act.

Protection of action taken in good faith. 55. Protection of action taken in good faith. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any person, in respect of anything done or intended to be done by it or him in good faith in pursuance of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder. 89

Delegation of Powers. 56. Delegation of Powers. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Act may also be exercised by such officer or authority subordinate to the Central Government or by the State Government or by any officer or authority subordinate to the State Government as may be specified in the direction.

Power of Central Government to make rules.

57. Power of Central Government to make rules. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules 1* for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the

provisions contained in sub-section (1), the rules so made may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-- (a) the additional particulars, if any, which an application under section 5, should contain; (b) the form in which notices under this Act may be issued; (c) the form in which applications under section 10 or section 13 may be made; (d) the registers which should be maintained under this Act; (e) the authorities required to be prescribed under this Act; (f) the board or other authority to which any report under

sub-section (2) of section 18 may be made and the matters which such board or other authority should take into account in making its report.

Power of State Government to make rules. 58. Power of State Government to make rules. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules providing for-- (a) the distribution of business amongst the various Tribunals within the State; (b) the manner in which copies of documents produced before the Tribunals should be certified; (c) the returns to be made by the Tribunals and the authorities to which they may be so made. 58A. Laying of rules.

2*[58A. Laying of rules. (1) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.

(2) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act 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 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 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.]

Repeals. 59. Repeals. Save as otherwise provided in section 36, the Displaced Persons (Institution of Suits) Act, 1948 (47 of 1948) and the Displaced Persons (Legal Proceedings) Act, 1949 (25 of 1949) shall cease to apply to displaced persons as defined in this Act. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. For the Displaced Persons (Debts Adjustment) Rules, 1951, see Gazette of India, 1952, Pt. II, See. 3, p. 80. For the Insurance Claims Board Rules, 1952, see ibid., Pt. II, Sec. 3, p. 1764. 2. Ins. by Act 20 of 1983, S. 2 & Sch. (w.e.f. 15-3-1984). { }