Chapter XI Chapter XI

(1) The Board shall give notice in the prescribed form to any person who is the owner of or has interest in the land in respect of which the betterment charges are to be levied and shall give such person an opportunity to be heard. (2) After hearing such person or if such person fails to appear after the expiry of the period, within which person is required to appear before the Board, the Board shall proceed to assess the amount of betterment charges. (3) Where the assessment of betterment charges proposed by the Board is accepted by the person concerned within the period prescribed, the assessment shall be final. (4) If the person concerned does not accept the assessment proposed by Board, the matter shall be referred to the Collector. (5) the Collector shall, after holding an enquiry and after hearing the person concerned, assess the amount of the betterment charges payable by the person.

(1) Any person liable to pay betterment charges in respect of land may at his option instead of paying the same to the Board, execute an agreement with the Board to leave the payment outstanding as a charge on his interest in the land subject to the payment in perpetuity of interest at such rate as may be prescribed. (2) Every payment due from any person in respect of betterment charges and every charge referred to in sub-section (1) shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment for the time being in force and notwithstanding the execution of any mortgage or charge created either before or after the 21st day of November, 1972 be the first charge upon the interest of such person in such land, subject to the prior payment of land revenue, if any, due to the Government on such land.

All sums payable in respect of any land by any person in respect of betterment charges under section 51 or by any person under an agreement under section 53 shall be recoverable on behalf of the Board as an arrear of land revenue.