Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956.
2. (2) It extends to all Union territories except the Union territories of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands.
3. (3) It shall come into force in a Union territory on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different Union territories.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,―

1. (a) “Administrator” means the Administrator of a Union territory;
2. (b) “building” includes any structure or erection or any part of a building as so defined but does not include plant or machinery comprised in a building;
3. (c) “competent authority” means such officer or authority as the Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint as the competent authority for the purposes of this Act;
4. (d) “erection” in relation to a building includes extension, alteration or re-erection; 2[(e) “land” includes benefits to arise out of land, and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth;
5. (f) “occupier” includes―
6. (a) any person who for the time being is paying or is liable to pay to the owner the rent or any portion of the rent of the land or building in respect of which such rent is paid or is payable;
7. (b) an owner in occupation of, or otherwise using his land or building;
8. (c) a rent-free tenant of any land or building;
9. (d) a licensee in occupation of any land or building; and
10. (e) any person who is liable to pay to the owner damages for the use and occupation of any land or building;]
11. (g) “owner” includes any person who is receiving or is entitled to receive the rent of any building or land whether on his own account or on behalf of himself and others or as agent or trustee, or who would so receive the rent or be entitled to receive it if the building or land were let to a tenant;
12. (h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; and 1. 8th February, 1957 in respect of the Union territory of Delhi, vide Notification No. S.R.O. 421, dated 4th February, 1957, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii). 1st April, 1958 in respect of the Union territory of Tripura, vide Notification No. S.R.O. 414, dated 31st March, 1958, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii). Extended to Pondicherry Act 26 of 1968.

² Subs. by Act 43 of 1964, s. 2, for clauses (e) and (f) (w.e.f. 27-2-1965).

[(i) “slum clearance” means the clearance of any slum area by the demolition and removal of

buildings therefrom;

1[(j) “work of improvement” includes in relation to any building in a slum area the execution of any one or more of the following works, namely:―

1. (i) necessary repairs;
2. (ii) structural alterations;
3. (iii) provision of light points, water taps and bathing places;
4. (iv) construction of drains, open or covered;
5. (v) provision of latrines, including conversion of dry latrines into water-borne latrines;
6. (vi) provision of additional or improved fixtures or fittings;
7. (vii) opening up or paving of courtyards;
8. (viii) removal of rubbish; and
9. (ix) any other work including the demolition of any building or any part thereof which in the opinion of the competent authority is necessary for executing any of the works specified above.]