Vidhi Codex

The Punjab Bhudan Yagna Act, 1955

The Punjab Bhudan Yagna Act, 1955

General195540 sections

This Act establishes Boards in the States of Punjab and Haryana, and in the transferred territory now of Himachal Pradesh, to manage land donated under the Bhudan Yagna movement for community benefit. It applies specifically to areas reorganised by the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966. The law regulates how this donated land is acquired, held, and used, primarily ensuring it serves the landless and supports essential village services like agriculture and pasture rather than private profit. By defining rights for recipients and the authority of the Boards, the Act institutionalises the spirit of voluntary land giving to promote social equity and public welfare.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2. Definitions
  3. 2A. Construction of certain references in the Act
  4. 3. Incorporation of Bhudan Yagna Board
  5. 3A. Powers of the Board in respect of the transferred territories
  6. 4. Constitution of Board
  7. 5. Term of office of members or Chairman
  8. 6. Filling of vacancy
  9. 7. Validity of proceedings
  10. 8. Appointment of officers and servants
  11. 9. Conditions of service of officers and servants
  12. 10. Conduct of business
  13. 11. Quorum
  14. 12. Board's funds
  15. 13. Application of funds
  16. 14. Power to make contract
  17. 15. Dissolution of the Board
  18. 16. Tahsil Committee
  19. 17. Procedure for making donation of land
  20. 18. Order of Revenue Officers subject of civil suit
  21. 19. Gifts to be irrevocable
  22. 20. Land vesting Board not attachable
  23. 21. Donation of land prior to commencement of Act
  24. 22. Lands which cannot be donated
  25. 23. Power of Board to allot land
  26. 24. Tahsil Committees to distribute land
  27. 25. Bhudan holders, Conditions of allotment
  28. 25A. Acquisition of proprietory rights
  29. 26. Ejectment of Bhudan holder on breach of conditions
  30. 27. Land held by Bhudan holder not liable to attachment
  31. 28. Exemption from stamp duty and registration
  32. 29. Ejectment of persons unlawful in possession
  33. 30. Partition of holdings
  34. 31. Procedure
  35. 32. Board's power to act as Tehsil Committee
  36. 33. Construction of references
  37. 34. Powers of Board to allot land for Community purposes
  38. 35. Regulations
  39. 36. Act not to apply to evacuee property
  40. 37. Power to make rules

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