Power of Government to acquire land

(1) Where, on any representation from the competent authority, it appears to the Government that for the purpose of improving or developing any slum area, or for the purpose of re-developing any slum clearance area or for the purpose of rehabilitating slum dwellers, it is necessary to acquire any land within, adjoining or surrounded by any such slum area or slum clearance area, they may acquire the land by publishing in the Gazette a notice to the effect that they have decided to acquire the land in pursuance of this section: Provided that, before publishing such notice, the Government shall call upon the owner of, or any other person who, in the opinion of the Government, may be interested in, such land to show cause why it should not be acquired; and after considering the cause, if any, shown by the owner or any other person interested in the land, the Government may pass such order as they deem fit. (2) When a notice referred to in sub-section (1) is published in the Gazette, the land shall, on and from the date on which the notice is so published, vest absolutely in the Government free from all encumbrances.