Definitions

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) “estate officer” means an officer appointed as such by the Government under section 3 ; (b) “local authority” means a municipal corporation, a municipal council, a township committee, a panchayat or any other authority by whatever name called, constituted under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of local self-government and includes the Trivandrum City Improvement Trust constituted under the Trivandrum City Improvement Trust Act, 1960 (I of 1961) or any other authority constituted under any law for the time being in force for the development of any local area ; (c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act ; (d) “public building” means any building or part of a building belonging to, or taken on lease or requisitioned by, or on behalf of, the Government or a local authority and includes— (i) the garden, grounds and outhouses, if any appertaining to such building or part of a building ; and (ii) any fittings affixed to such building or part of a building for the more beneficial enjoyment thereof; (e) “rent”, in relation to any public building, means the consideration payable periodically for the authorised occupation of the building, and includes— (i) any charge for electricity, water or any other services in connection with the occupation of the building, (ii) any tax (by whatever name called) payable in respect of the building, where such charge or tax is payable by the Government or the local authority, as the case may be ; (f) “unauthorised occupation”, in relation to any public building, means the occupation by any person of the building without authority for such occupation and includes the continuance in occupation by any person of the public building after the authority (whether by way of lease or any other mode of transfer) under which he was allowed to occupy the building has expired or has been determined for any reason whatsoever.