Restoration of evacuee property

(1) Save as provided under section (3) and subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, any evacuee or any person claiming to be an heir of an evacuee may apply to Government or to any person authorised by it in this behalf (hereinafter in this section referred to as the authorized person) that any evacuee property which has vested in the Custodian and to which the applicant would have been entitled if this Act were not in force, may be restored to him. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1) Government or the authorized person, as the case may be, shall cause public notice thereof to be given in the prescribed manner, and after causing an inquiry into the claim to be held in such manner as may be prescribed, shall — (a) if satisfied — (i) that the conditions prescribed by rules made in this behalf have been satisfied, (ii) that the evacuee property is the property of the applicant, and (iii) that it is just or proper that the evacuee property should be restored to him, make an order restoring the property to the applicant, or (b) if not so satisfied, reject the application: Provided that where the application is rejected on the ground that the evacuee property is not the property of the applicant, the rejection of the application shall not prejudice the right of the applicant to establish his title to the property in a Civil Court, or (c) if there is any doubt with respect to the title of the applicant to the property, refer him to a Civil Court for the determination of his title: Provided that no order for the restoration of any evacuee property shall be made under this sub-section unless provision has been made in the prescribed manner for the recovery of any amount due to the Custodian in respect of the property or the management thereof. (3) Upon the restoration of the property to the evacuee or to the heir, as the case may be, the Custodian shall stand absolved of all responsibilities in respect of the property, so restored, but such restoration shall not prejudice the rights, if any, in respect of the property which any other person may be entitled to enforce against the person to whom the property has been so restored: Provided that every lease granted in respect of the property by or on behalf of the Custodian shall have effect against the person to whom restoration is made until such lease is determined by lapse of time or by operation of law. (4) The Custodian shall, on demand furnish to the evacuee or to the heir, as the case may be, a statement containing an abstract of the account of the income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the property, and such other particulars as may be required by him and as the circumstances may permit. (5) Where the property had been sold by the Custodian or acquired by Government under any law, the provisions in the foregoing sub-sections shall apply to the net sale proceeds or, as the case may be, the net compensation hereof. (1) An order for the restoration of property under section 15 may contain all or any of the conditions, namely:— (i) That the person to whom property is restored shall not evict any allottee except in the circumstances in which lessee can be evicted under any law for the time being in force. (ii) Where the person to whom the property is restored is given vacant possession of the property, he shall pay such compensation to the allottees in respect of any improvements made by them on the property as may be determined by the Custodian. (iii) That the person to whom the property is restored shall pay the amount due to the Custodian in respect of the property or the management thereof. (iv) Such other conditions as the Government may by order specify from time to time. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in section 15 on the subject, a Custodian may while making an order for the restoration of evacuee property under that Section, impose any terms or conditions which he considers to be just and proper, having regard to the commitments already made, or action already taken by him in the exercise of his functions under the Act, or which otherwise seem to be necessary for carrying out the purpose of the Act.