Chapter II THE COURT OF WARDS

The Board of Revenue shall be the Court of Wards for the entire State of Kerala and, for the purposes of this Act, collectors shall be subject to the control of the court.

The Court shall be subject to the control of the Government and the Government may, if they think fit, revise, modify or reverse any order passed or proceedings taken under this Act, whether a petition is presented against such order or proceedings or not.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, or in any other law for the time being in force, it shall be lawful for the Board of Revenue, subject to the approval of the Government, to declare what portion of the business of the court may be dispose of by a single member of the Board and what portion shall be reserved for the decision of the full Board. Every such declaration shall, after approval by the Government, be notified in the Gazette. (2) All orders made and decisions passed by one member of the Board or by the full Board in accordance with a declaration made under sub-section (1) shall be held to be the orders and decisions of the court, and the same shall not be deemed to be invalid by reason that subsequent thereto the said declaration was disapproved by the Government. Where there is a difference of opinion between the members of the Board sitting as the court on any point, the decision of the majority shall prevail and, when there is no majority, the point in difference shall be referred to the Government whose decision thereon shall be deemed to be the decision of the court on the point. (3) It shall in all cases be lawful for the officer appointed by the Government as Secretary to the court to sign on behalf of the court.

The court may exercise all or any of the powers conferred on it by this Act through the Collectors in whose districts any part of the property of the ward may be situated or through any other person whom it may appoint for the purpose; and may confer any of its powers on any such Collector or person any withdraw any powers so conferred.