Vidhi Codex

THE SLUM AREAS (IMPROVEMENT AND CLEARANCE) ACT, 1956

The Slum Clearance Act 1956

Infrastructure195646 sections7 chapters

The Slum Areas Improvement and Clearance Act of 1956 regulates the improvement, demolition, and redevelopment of substandard housing declared as slums. Applying to residents, property owners, and landholders in most Indian Union territories, the law empowers government authorities to order necessary repairs, enforce sanitation upgrades, and initiate building demolitions. It matters because it protects public safety and health by tackling hazardous living conditions, congestion, and inadequate basic infrastructure. Under this framework, the government can acquire private land to execute clearances and manage redevelopment, balancing property owner duties with collective welfare to systematically improve disadvantaged areas and secure decent living environments.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II SLUM AREAS →

  1. 3Declaration of slum areas.

Chapter III SLUM IMPROVEMENT →

  1. 4Power of competent authority to require improvement of buildings unfit for human
  2. 5Inforcement of notice requiring execution of works of improvement.
  3. 6Expenses of maintenance of works of improvement, etc., to be recoverable from the occupiers
  4. 6ARestriction on building, etc., in slum areas.
  5. 7Power of competent authority to order demolition of buildings unfit for human
  6. 8Procedure to be followed where demolition order has been made.

Chapter IV SLUM CLEARANCE AND RE-DEVELOPMENT →

  1. 9Power to declare any slum area to be a clearance area.
  2. 10Slum clearance order.
  3. 11Power of competent authority to re-develop clearance area.

Chapter V ACQUISITION OF LAND →

  1. 12Power of Central Government to acquire land.
  2. 13Land acquired by Central Government to be made available to the competent
  3. 14Right to receive compensation.
  4. 15Basis for determination of compensation.
  5. 16Apportionment of compensation.
  6. 17Payment of compensation or deposit of the same in court.
  7. 18Powers of competent authority in relation to determination of compensation, etc.

Chapter VI PROTECTION OF TENANTS IN SLUM AREAS FROM EVICTION →

  1. 19Proceedings for eviction of tenants not to be taken without permission of the competent
  2. 20Appeals.
  3. 20ARestoration of possession of premises vacated by a tenant.
  4. 20BRent of buildings in slum areas.
  5. 21Chapter not to apply to eviction of tenants from certain buildings.

Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 22Powers of entry.
  2. 23Powers of inspection.
  3. 24Power to enter land adjoining land where work is in progress.
  4. 25Breaking into buildings.
  5. 26Entry to be made in the day time.
  6. 27Owner's consent ordinarily to be obtained.
  7. 28Power of eviction to be exercised only by the competent authority.
  8. 29Power to remove offensive or dangerous trades from slum areas.
  9. 30Appeals.
  10. 31Service of notices, etc.
  11. 32Penalties.
  12. 33Order of demolition of buildings in certain cases.
  13. 34Jurisdiction of courts.
  14. 35Previous sanction of the competent authority or officers authorised by it for prosecution.
  15. 36Power to delegate.
  16. 37Protection of action taken in good faith.
  17. 37ABar of jurisdiction.
  18. 38Competent authority, etc., to be public servants.
  19. 39Act to override other laws.
  20. 40Power to make rules.

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