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The Puducherry Municipalities Act, 1973

The Puducherry Municipalities Act, 1973

Infrastructure1973318 of 312 sections available1 chapters

This Act provides the legal framework for the administration of municipalities in the Union territory of Puducherry. It establishes the rules for constituting municipal councils and appointing key officials such as the Commissioner and Chairman. By defining terms related to buildings, local infrastructure, and governance, the law ensures orderly urban development and effective local self-government. It applies to the entire territory and came into force in stages starting in 1974, serving as the primary statute for managing civic affairs and local administration in the region.

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Chapter IX FINANCE →

  1. 193Constitution of the municipal fund.
  2. 194Municipal fund to be in Government treasury, etc., and operation of accounts.
  3. 195Payment not to be made unless covered by a budget-grant.
  4. 196Procedure when money not covered by a budget-grant is
  5. 198Expenditure from municipal fund.
  6. 202Re-adjustment of income and expenditure to be made by the
  7. 205Appointment of auditors of accounts.
  8. 207Defect and irregularities to be rectified by the Commissioner.
  9. 210Appeal against the decision of the auditor.
  10. 214Recovery of loans and advances made by the Government.
  11. 215Grant by Government to the municipal fund.
  12. 217Construction and maintenance of water works
  13. 218Constitution of water boards for local authorities
  14. 219Trespass on premises connected with water supply
  15. 220Prohibition of building over water mains
  16. 223Private water supply for consumption and domestic use and
  17. 224Power of Commissioner to supply water for non-domestic
  18. 226Supply outside the municipality
  19. 227Power to cut off water-supply.- (1) The Commissioner may cut off the supply of municipal water from any premises ---
  20. 228Non-liability of council for reduction of stoppage of supply in certain cases
  21. 229Provision for lighting public street.
  22. 230Maintenance of system of drainage by council
  23. 231Control over house-drains, privies and cess-pools and connection of housedrains with public drains.- (1) All
  24. 232Commissioner may close or limit the use of existing private
  25. 233Power of Commissioner to drain premises in combination
  26. 234Building, etc., not to be erected without permission over drains.(1) Without the permission of the council, no person
  27. 235Construction of culverts or drain-coverings by owner or occupier
  28. 236Maintenance of troughs and pipes for catching water
  29. 237Provision of public latrines.
  30. 240Provision of flush-out or other latrines for markets, cart-stands
  31. 241Flush-out or other latrines to be screened from view and kept clean
  32. 242Power to carry wire, pipes, drains, etc., through private property
  33. 243Provided further that the Commissioner, shall, with the sanction of the council, pay compensation to any person who sustains damage by the exercise of such power.
  34. 244Powers in respect of works outside the municipality.
  35. 246Contribution from persons having control over places of
  36. 250Prohibition against using any cart without cover in the removal
  37. 251Prohibition against throwing rubbish or filth into drains.
  38. 253Powers of municipal authorities.- (1) The council may.-
  39. 254Power to dispose of permanently closed street
  40. 255Acquisition of land and buildings for improvement of streets.- (1) The council may acquire : --
  41. 256Powers to declare any street a public street, subject to objections by owners
  42. 257Power to prescribe building line and street alignment.- The Council may --
  43. 258Building not to be constructed within street alignment or building line.-
  44. 259Setting back projecting building walls
  45. 260Setting buildings forward to improve line of street.
  46. 261Projected streets
  47. 264Provided that such work shall be completed and such street reopened to traffic as expeditiously as practicable.
  48. 265Power of municipality to recover expenses caused by extraordinary traffic
  49. 266Owner’s obligation to make a street when disposing of land as building sites
  50. 267Making of new private streets
  51. 270Power of Commissioner to order work to be carried out or to carry it out himself in default.- (1) If any private street
  52. 271Right of owners to require street to be declared public.
  53. 273Prohibition and regulation of doors, ground-floor windows
  54. 274Removal of encroachment.
  55. 275Power to allow certain projections, etc
  56. 276Power of council to set up hoardings and levy fees
  57. 277Precautions during repair of streets
  58. 281Clearing of debris of fallen houses, etc., by occupiers.
  59. 282Naming or numbering of public streets.
  60. 283Numbering of buildings
  61. 284Prohibition of plying hand-carts without licence
  62. 285Building rules.- (1) The Government may make rules
  63. 286Building site and construction or reconstruction of buildings
  64. 287Power of council to regulate future construction of certain classes of buildings in particular streets or localities.-
  65. 288Building at corners of streets
  66. 289Prohibition against use of inflammable materials for buildings
  67. 290Prohibition against constructing doors, ground floor, windows
  68. 294Period within which Commissioner is to signify approval or
  69. 295Period within which Commissioner is to grant or refuse to grant
  70. 296Provided that the said period of thirty days shall not begin to run until the site has been approved under section 294.
  71. 297Grounds on which approval of site for, or permission to construct or reconstruct, building, may be refused.- (1) The
  72. 303Restrictions on uses of buildings
  73. 304Application of certain sections to wells
  74. 305Application to construct or reconstruct huts
  75. 306Prohibition against commencement of work without permission
  76. 307Period within which Commissioner is to grant or refuse to grant
  77. 308Reference to the standing committee, or council if Commissioner
  78. 309Grounds on which permission to construct or reconstruct hut may be refused
  79. 310Lapse of permission.
  80. 311Restriction on the power to refuse approval or permission for construction of buildings or huts
  81. 313Application of provisions to alterations and additions
  82. 314Demolition or alteration of building work unlawfully commenced, carried, on or completed.- (1) If the Commissioner is satisfied, --
  83. 315Power of Commissioner to impose penalty in the case of unauthorised constructions or alterations.- (1) Notwithstanding
  84. 316Exemptions.
  85. 317Precautions in case of dangerous structures
  86. 318Precautions in case of dangerous trees
  87. 319Precautions in case of dangerous tanks, wells, holes etc
  88. 321Precautions against fire.
  89. 322Control over waters, etc.
  90. 323Filling in of pools, etc. which are a nuisance.- (1) If in the opinion of the Commissioner.
  91. 324Regulation or prohibition of certain kinds of cultivation
  92. 325Cleansing of insanitary private tank or well used for drinking
  93. 326Duty of council in respect of public well or receptacle of stagnant
  94. 327Prohibition against or regulation of washing animals or cloths or
  95. 329Prohibition against washing by washermen at authorised places.
  96. 330Prohibition against defiling water of tanks, etc., whether public or private
  97. 333Fencing of buildings or lands and pruning of hedges and trees.
  98. 334Lime-washing and cleaning of buildings
  99. 335Further powers with reference to insanitary building.- (1) Whenever the Commissioner considers --
  100. 336Buildings unfit for human habitation
  101. 337Abatement of overcrowding in dwelling-house or dwelling place
  102. 339Prohibition against keeping animals or bird so as to be dangerous
  103. 340Power to destroy stray pigs and dogs.
  104. 341Powers of Commissioner to use or sell materials of dangerous
  105. 342Limitation of compensation
  106. 343Government not to obtain licences and permissions
  107. 344Conditions precedent to grant or renewal of licence
  108. 345Licences for places in which animals are kept.
  109. 346General powers of central over stables, cattles-sheds and cow-houses.-
  110. 347Power to direct discontinuance of use of buildings as stable, cattle-shed or cow-house.- (1) If any stable, cattle-shed
  111. 348Places of public resort and entertainment.
  112. 349Application and grant of licence
  113. 352Power to enter place of public resort to inspect licence or to
  114. 354Prohibition of smoking in certain places where entertainments are held
  115. 355Purpose for which places may not be used without licence
  116. 356Applications to be made for construction, establishment or installation of factory, workshop as work-place in which steam or other power is to be employed.-
  117. 357Council may issue directions for abatement of nuisance caused by steam or other power .- (1) If, in any factory,
  118. 358Power of the Government to pass orders or give directions to
  119. 359Power of Commissioner to enter any factory, workshop or work
  120. 360Prohibition of corruption of water by chemicals etc
  121. 361Provision of municipal slaughter-houses
  122. 362Licence for slaughter-houses
  123. 365Provided that the Commissioner may authorise any person to slaughter, without licence and without the payment of any fee, any animal for the purpose of a religious ceremony.
  124. 366Regulation of milk trade.
  125. 367Markets, butchers, fish-mongers, hawkers.
  126. 368Powers in respect of public market.- (1) The council may provide places for use as public markets.
  127. 369Control of the Commissioner over public markets
  128. 370Licence for private market
  129. 374Suspension or refusal of licence in default
  130. 378Duty of expelling persons suffering from leprosy, etc., from
  131. 381Decision of disputes as to whether places are markets.
  132. 383Prohibition of use of public place or sides of public streets as
  133. 385Licence of private cart-stand
  134. 386Acquisition of right of persons to keep private cart-stands
  135. 387Licensing of porters.
  136. 389Powers of Commissioner for purposes of inspection
  137. 390Preventing inspection by Commissioner
  138. 391Power of Commissioner to seize diseased animals, noxious food, etc
  139. 394Production of articles etc., seized before Magistrate and powers of Magistrate to deal with them.- (1) Articles of food
  140. 395Registration or closing of ownerless places for disposal of dead
  141. 396Licensing of places for disposal of dead
  142. 397Provision of burial and burning grounds and crematoria within municipality
  143. 398Register of registered, licenced and provided places and prohibition of use of other places.- (1) A book shall be kept
  144. 399Report of burials and burnings.
  145. 400Prohibition against use of burial and burning grounds
  146. 401Prohibitions in respect of corpses.- (1) Except with the permission of the Commissioner, no person shall ---
  147. 404Grave-diggers, licence
  148. 406Power to establish cattle-pounds and appoint pound-keepers.(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the
  149. 407Duties of pound-keepers
  150. 408Impounding cattle
  151. 409Delivery of cattle claimed
  152. 410Security in respect of impounded cattle
  153. 411If cattle are not impounded as aforesaid the amount of security deposit shall, on application made by or on behalf of
  154. 412Pound-fees and expenses chargeable to be fixed
  155. 413Complaints of illegal seizure of detention
  156. 414Definitions.- For the purposes of this Chapter,
  157. 415Issue of notice to show cause against order of eviction
  158. 416Eviction of unauthorised occupants
  159. 417Disposal of property or property left on municipal premises by unauthorsied occupants.
  160. 418Power to recover rent or damages in respect of municipal premises as arrears of land revenue.- (1) Where any person is
  161. 419Power of Commissioner
  162. 420Appeal
  163. 423Power to make rules
  164. 424Definition of “infectious disease”
  165. 425Obligation of medical practitioner or owner or occupier to report infectious disease.- (1) If any medical practitioner
  166. 428Provision of places for disinfection and power to destroy infected articles.(1) The Commissioner shall, from time to
  167. 429Prohibition against transfer of infected articles
  168. 430Power of council to prohibit use of water likely to spread
  169. 431Commissioner may order removal of patients to hospital.
  170. 434Letting of infected building
  171. 436Minor suffering from infectious disease not attend school or college
  172. 437Compulsory vaccination
  173. 439Restriction on entry of persons inoculated for small-pox.
  174. 441Power of Government to alter Schedule III
  175. 442Procedure for the issue of notification under section 441
  176. 444Power to give retrospective effect to certain bye-laws
  177. 445Penalty for breaches of bye-laws
  178. 448Publication of regulations
  179. 450Penalty for acting as councillor, Chairman or Vice-Chairman when disqualified
  180. 452Penalty for acquisition by Municipal Officer of interest in contract
  181. 453Penalty for unlawful building.- If --(a) the construction or re-construction of any building or well is ---
  182. 454Notice to scavengers before discharge and penalty for withdrawal without notice
  183. 456Penalty for not giving information or for giving false information.
  184. 457PROCEDURE AND MISCELLANEOUS Licences and permissions.
  185. 458Appeals from Commissioner
  186. 459Limitation of time for appeal
  187. 461Summons to attend and give evidence or produce documents.
  188. 463Signature on documents
  189. 464Publication of notifications
  190. 465Publication of bye-laws, notices, orders, etc
  191. 467Such notice shall specify the purpose for which such place has been set apart or the act prohibited in such place.
  192. 470Execution of work by occupier in default of owner.
  193. 474Consequences of failure to obtain licences, etc., or of breach of
  194. 475Time for complying with order and power to enforce in default.(1) Whenever by any notice, requisition or order under
  195. 476Recovery of expenses from persons liable and limitation of liability of occupier
  196. 477Relief to agent and to trustees
  197. 478Power of Commissioner to agree to receive payment of expenses
  198. 483Imprisonment in default of payment and application of costs etc
  199. 484Payment of compensation for damage to municipal property
  200. 485Legal proceedings.
  201. 486Provision respecting institution, etc., of civil and criminal
  202. 488Injunctions not to be granted in election or assessment
  203. 489Indemnity of the Government, Director, Municipal authorities,
  204. 490Liability of Chairman, members and Commissioner for loss,
  205. 491Sanction for prosecution of Chairman, councillor or
  206. 493Duties of police officers.- (1) It shall be the duty of every police officer --
  207. 494Power of police officers to arrest persons
  208. 495Exercise of powers of police officers by municipal servants.
  209. 497Prohibition against obstruction of municipal authorities,
  210. 500Prohibition against unauthorised dealings with public place or
  211. 502Revision
  212. 503Offences by companies
  213. 504Power of Government to make suitable provisions by order when a municipality is created or altered.- (1) In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, --
  214. 505Repeal and savings
  215. 506Special provisions regarding the term of councillors of existing
  216. 507Consequences of replacement of existing councils
  217. 508Provisions as to employees existing before the commencement
  218. 509Obligation to carry out certain duties and functions of existing
  219. 511Power to exempt
  220. 512Power to remove difficulties.
  221. 513Amendment of the Puducherry Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1967

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