Interpretation

In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context ,—

1. (a) "claim" means a statement of loss or damage suffered by a refugee since the 1st day of March, 1947, in respect of his land within the territory now comprised in the Provinces of [Punjab in Pakistan], North-West Frontier Province, Sind or Baluchistan, or in any State adjacent to the aforesaid Provinces and acceding to * * * * Pakistan ;
2. (b) "land" means land which is not occupied as the site of any building in a town or village and is occupied or let for agricultural purposes or for purposes subservient to agriculture or for pasture, and includes—
   • (i) the sites of buildings and other structures on such land ;
   • (ii) a share in the profit of an estate or holding ;
   • (iii) any dues or any fixed percentage of land revenue payable by an inferior landowner to a superior landowner ;
   • (iv) a right to receive rent ; and
   • (v) any right of occupancy.
3. (c) "land-holder" means an owner of land or a tenant having a right of occupancy under the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 [XVI of 1887] or a tenant as defined in section 3 of the Colonization of Government Lands Act, 1912 [Punjab Act V of 1912] and such other holder or grantee of land as may be specified by the [Central Government] ;
4. (d) "refugee" means a land-holder in the territories now comprised in the Province of [Punjab in Pakistan], or who or whose ancestor migrated as a colonist [from the undivided Punjab] since 1901, to the Provinces of North-West Frontier Province, Sind or Baluchistan or to any State adjacent to any of the aforesaid Provinces and acceding to * * * * Pakistan, and who has since the 1st day of March, 1947, abandoned or been made to abandon his land in the said territories on account of civil disturbances, or the fear of such disturbances, or the partition of the country ;
5. (e) "Registering Officer" means a Land Claims Officer or Assistant Land Claims Officers appointed under this Act and includes any Revenue Officer as defined in section 6 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act [Act No. XVII of 1887] within the area of his jurisdiction ; and
6. (f) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
7. (g) "Deputy Commissioner" means a Deputy Commissioner of the District and includes an Additional Deputy Commissioner or other officer appointed by the [Central Government] to perform in any District or Districts or parts thereof the functions of a Deputy Commissioner under this Act.