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09/11/2024
Laws of Bangladesh

The State Acquisition and Tenancy Act, 1950 (East Bengal Act)

( ACT NO. XXVIII OF 1951 )

Chapter XIII

INCIDENTS OF HOLDINGS OF RAIYATS, AND TRANSFER, PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION OF LANDS

Restriction on alienation of land by aboriginals
97. (1) The Government may from time to time, by notification, declare that the provisions of this section shall, in any district or local area, apply to such of the following aboriginal castes or tribes as may be specified in the notification, and that such castes or tribes shall be deemed to be aboriginals for the purposes of this section, and the publication of such notification shall be conclusive evidence that the provisions of this section have been duly applied to such castes or tribes, namely:-
 
 
 
 
Sonthals, 1[Banais] Bhuiyas,Bhumijes, Dalus, Garos, Gonds, Hadis, Hajangs, Hos, Kharias, Kharwars, Kochs (Dhaka Division), Koras, Maghs (Bakerganj District), Mal and Sauria Paharias, Maches, Mundas, Mundais, Oraons and Turis.
 
 
 
 
(2) Except as provided in this section, no transfer by an aboriginal raiyat of his right in his holding or in any portion thereof shall be valid unless it is made to another aboriginal domiciled or permanently residing in Bangladesh who is a person to whom the transfer of such holding or portion thereof can be made under section 90.
 
 
 
 
(3) If in any case an aboriginal raiyat desires to transfer holding or any portion thereof by private sale, gift or will to any person who is not such an aboriginal, he may apply to the Revenue-officer for permission in that behalf, and the Revenue-officer may pass such order on the application as he thinks fit having regard to the provisions of sections 88 and 90.
 
 
 
 
(4) Every transfer referred to in sub-section (3) shall be made by registered deed; and before the deed is registered and the holding or any portion thereof is transferred, the written consent of the Revenue-officer shall be obtained to the terms of the deed and to the transfer.
 
 
 
 
(5) An aboriginal raiyat's power to mortgage his land shall be restricted to only one form of mortgage, namely, a complete usufructuary mortgage:
 
 
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a mortgage to Government or to the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan or to the 2[***] Agricultural Development Corporation or to a Co-operation Society for obtaining loans for Agricultural purposes.
 
 
 
 
(6) An aboriginal raiyat may enter with another aboriginal, domiciled or permanently residing in Bangladesh, who is a person with whom a complete usufructuary mortgage can be entered into under sub-section (1) of section 95, into a complete usufructuary mortgage in respect of any land comprised within his holding for any period which does not and cannot, in any possible event, by any agreement express or implied, exceed seven years:
 
 
 
 
Provided that every mortgage so entered into shall be registered under the Registration Act, 1908.
 
 
 
 
(7) Any transfer made by an aboriginal raiyat in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be void.
 
 
 
 
(8) (a) If a transfer of a holding or any portion thereof is made by an aboriginal raiyat in contravention of the provisions of this section, the Revenue-officer may, on his own initiative or on application made in that behalf, by an order in writing, eject the transferee from such holding or portion:
 
 
 
 
Provided that the transferee shall be given an opportunity of showing cause against such ejectment before the order is passed.
 
 
 
 
(b) When the Revenue-officer has passed any order under clause (a), he shall either (i) restore the transferred land to the aboriginal or his heir or legal representative or, (ii) failing the transferor or his heir or legal representative, declare that the land has vested in the Government and the Revenue-officer may settle the land with another aboriginal.
 
 
 
 
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no decree or order shall be passed by any Court for the sale of the right of any aboriginal raiyat in his holding or any portion thereof, nor shall any such right be sold in execution of any decree or order:
 
 
Provided that any holding belonging to an aboriginal may be sold, according to the provisions of this Act, in execution of a certificate for the recovery of the arrears of rent of the holding or for recovery of any loan advanced for agricultural purposes by Government or the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan or the 3[* * *] Agricultural Development Corporation or a Co-operative Society to an aboriginal on the security of his holding.
 
 
 
 
(10) The Government may, by notification, declare that this section shall, in any district or local area, cease to apply to any caste or tribe to which it may have been applied under sub-section (1).

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Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs