Liability of property owner to pay compensation.

(1) Any person whose property catches fire on account of any action of his own or of his agent done deliberately or negligently shall be liable to pay compensation to any other person suffering damage to his property on account of any action taken under section 9 of this Act by any officer mentioned therein or any person acting under the authority of such officer. (2) All claims under sub-section (1) shall be preferred to the District Collector of the area within thirty days from the date when the damage was caused. (3) The District Collector shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, determine the amount of compensation due and pass an order stating such amount and the person liable for the same, and the order so passed shall have the force of a decree of a civil court.