Power of Health Officer to abate nuisance

(1) If the Health Officer is satisfied, whether upon information received under section 39 or otherwise, of the existence of a nuisance, he shall be duty bound to issue a notice, within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of such information or date of knowledge of the existence of such nuisance, as the case may be, requiring the person who is responsible for such nuisance or by whose act, default or sufferance or thing the nuisance arises or continues, and/or if that person cannot be found, the owner or occupier of the premises in respect of which the nuisance arises or continues, to abate the nuisance and to execute such works and take such steps as may be necessary for that purpose, within a period as may be fixed in the notice, not exceeding sixty days in any case. Provided that, the Health Officer, for reasons to be recorded in writing, and upon the application in writing by such person to whom such notice is issued, may extend the period specified in such notice, by a further period of fifteen days, in the facts and circumstances of the case. (2) The officer-in-charge of the police station of the area concerned shall be duty bound and responsible, when called upon by the concerned Health Officer or such other officer as authorised by the Directorate of Health Services, to provide necessary police protection for removal and/or to ensure removal of such nuisance and shall also provide all possible assistance for removal of such nuisance. The officer-in-charge of the police station, shall be answerable and responsible for non-compliance of the requisition made by the Health Officer or by such other person as specified in this sub-section. (3) The directions as contained in the notice under sub-section (1) shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or any custom or usage or decree or order of a Court, or any agreement or contract, express or implied, as far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section. (4) The issuance of the notice under sub-section (1) to a person, as an occupier of any premises, shall not create any legal right, title or interest in such person, in respect of such premises, if such person is not the owner of such premises as the notice issued is only for creating the liability of abatement of nuisance or execution of any work or to take such steps as may be directed under sub-section (1). (4-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), if any person, whether owner or occupier of any premises, to whom a notice is issued by the Health Officer under sub-section (1), fails to comply with the directions given therein within the specified period or within the extended period, as the case may be, and the nuisance is caused due to improper drainage, overflowing of septic tank or lack of provision for adequate sanitary convenience, etc., the owner or occupier of the premises shall be liable to pay a fine of Rs. 500 per day till such time the nuisance is abated or the occurrence thereof is stopped. (5) If any person, owner or occupier of any premises, to whom a notice is issued by the Health Officer under sub-section (1), fails to comply with the directions given therein, within the specified period or within the extended period, as the case may be, the Health Officer shall himself execute any work or take such steps, which he may consider necessary, to abate the nuisance and to prevent the recurrence thereof: Provided that, any expenses incurred or loss suffered on account of execution of any work or steps taken by the Health Officer, for abatement of nuisance under this sub-section, shall be recovered from the person to whom the notice under sub-section (1) was issued, as arrears of land revenue. Provided further that the Health Officer, after giving due notice to the defaulter, may request the Electricity Department or the Public Works Department, as the case may be, to disconnect the electricity or water supply to the premises or place in respect of which the nuisance arose or continues and the Electricity Department or the Public Works Department to whom such request is made shall forthwith disconnect said supply and such disconnection shall continue till the nuisance is removed to the entire satisfaction of the Health Officer. (6) The failure to comply with the directions contained in the notice issued under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable offence, punishable with: fine which may extend to Rs. 25,000/- Provided that the said offence may be compounded by the Health Officer, if the offender agrees to pay a fine of Rs. 3,500/-. (7) In case of any nuisance arising in respect of the premises belonging to the Government, the officer-in-charge of the said premises or Head of office, as the case may be, shall be liable personally to be issued a notice under sub-section (1) as also for the penalty specified in sub-section (6): Provided that if the Health Officer himself is the office-in-charge of such premises or Head of office, the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not be applicable to him although he shall be duty bound and liable to abate the nuisance within a period of eight days from the date of knowledge of the existence of nuisance. (8) If the Health Officer, after receiving the information of any nuisance, either under section 39 or upon his own knowledge, intentionally or deliberately, fails or neglects, to take any action as provided for, in sub-section (1), (5) or (7) as the case may be, within the period specified thereto, he shall be liable for payment of fine at the rate of at least Rs. 50/- per day and which may extend to Rs. 5000/-, upon conviction by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, after a complaint at that regard is filed by any person aggrieved by a nuisance.