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

(a)

3[*****] .Substituted by Act No.16 of 1987, s 2. .Substituted by Act No. 18 of 1994, s 2. .Omitted by Act No. 16 of 1987, s 3.

1. (b) "Government" means the State Government;
2. (c) "land" includes rights in or over land, benefits to arise out of land, and buildings, structures and other things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth; 1[(cc)"land belonging to a private person" means any land belonging to,-
   • (i) an evacuee;
   • (ii) a military personnel, or
   • (iii) any other private individual. The value or the extent of which or the nature of the evil involved shall be of substantial nature or in the interest of justice required".]
3. (d) "land grabber" means a person or a group of persons who commits land grabbing and includes any person who gives financial aid to any person for taking illegal possession of lands or for construction of unauthorised structures thereon, or who collects or attempts to collect from any occupiers of such lands rent, compensation and other charges by criminal intimidation, or who abets the doing of any of the above mentioned acts; and also includes the successors in interest;
4. (e) "land grabbing" means every activity of grabbing of any land (whether belonging to the Government, a local authority, a religious or charitable institution or endowment, including a wakf, or any other private person) by a person or group of persons, without any lawful entitlement and with a view to illegally taking possession of such lands, or enter into or create illegal tenancies or lease and licence agreements or any other illegal agreements in respect of such lands, or to construct unauthorised structures thereon for sale or hire, or give such lands to any person on rental or lease and licence basis for construction, or use and occupation, of unauthorised structures; and the term "to grab land" shall be construed accordingly;
5. (f) "notification" means a notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette; and the word "notified" shall be constructed accordingly;
6. (g) "person" includes a group of body of persons, an association, or a religious or charitable institution or endowment, whether incorporated or not;
7. (h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made by the Government under this Act; 2[(i)"Schedule" means a Schedule appended to this Act; (i-a)"Special Court" means a Special Court constituted under Section7;

(i-b)"Special Tribunal" means a Court of the District Judge having

jurisdiction over the area concerned and includes Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad.]

1. (j) "unauthorised structures" means any structure constructed, without express permission in writing of the Municipal Commissioner in any municipal corporation or municipality, and .Inserted by Act No. 16 of 1987, s 3. .Substituted by Act No. 16 of 1987, s 3. elsewhere of the authority concerned, or except in accordance with any law for the time being in force in the area concerned.