Government to prepare scheme

(1) With the object of consolidating holdings in any estate or group of estates or any part thereof for the purpose of better cultivation of lands therein, the Central Government may of its own motion or on application made in this behalf declare by notification and by publication in the prescribed manner in the estate or estates concerned its intention to make a scheme for the consolidation of holdings in such estate or estates or part thereof as may be specified. (2) On such publication in the estate concerned the Central Government may appoint a Consolidation Officer who shall after obtaining in the prescribed manner the advice of the landowners of the estate or estates concerned, and of the non-proprietors and the Gram Panchayat, if any, constituted in such estate or estates under the Gram Panchayat Act, No. IV of 1953, prepare a scheme for the consolidation of holdings in such estate or estates or part thereof as the case may be. (3) Where a notification under sub-section (1) has been made in respect of a group of estates and the land is situated in more than one estate in the group, then notwithstanding anything contained in the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, the scheme prepared by the Consolidation Officer may provide for the alteration of boundaries of such estates.