The Sikkim (Re-organization of Districts) Act, 2021

(1) This Act may be called the Sikkim (Re-organization of Districts) Acl, 2021. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Sikkim. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.

(1) ln this Act, unless the context otherwise requires; (a) 'Act' means the Sikkim (Re-organization of Districts) Act, 2021; (b) 'district' means a revenue district formed under the provisions of this Act headed by a District Collector; (c) 'existing district' means the four districts of the State of Sikkim, that existed immediately before the commencement of this Act, namely, East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim; (d) 'existing law' means any act, ordinance, regulation, order, by-laws, rules, scheme, notification or any other instrument having the force of law in lndia or any part thereof and includes any law protected under Article 371F (k) of the Constitution of lndia; (e) 'Official Gazette' means the Government of Sikkim Gazette published by authority; (f) 'notification' means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression 'notify' or 'notified' shall be construed accordingly; (g) 'revenue circles' means any area which is notified as a revenue circle under the provisions of this Act and includes any revenue circle that existed immediately prior to the commencement of this Act; (h) 'revenue block' means any area which is notified as a revenue block under the provisions ol this Act and includes any revenue block that existed immediately prior to the commencement of this Act; (i) 'State Government' means the State Government of Sikkim; (j) 'sub-division' means a revenue sub-division under a district headed by a Sub-Divisional Officer. (2) Any term not specifically defined hereinabove shall be assigned same meaning as given in the Sikkim lnterpretation of General Clauses Act, 1977 or the General Clauses Act, 1897, as the case may be.

(1) On and from the date of commencement of thls Act, the existing four districts of East Sikkim, West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim shall be renamed as Gangtok, Gyalshing, Mangan and Namchi respectively. (2) A new district, namely, 'Pakyong' district, having its headquarters at Pakyong, shall be carved out from the existing East Sikkim district which shall comprise of the Revenue Circles falling under the existing Pakyong Sub-Division. (3) A new district, namely, 'Soreng' district, having its headquarters at Soreng, shall be carved out from the existing West Sikkim district which shall comprise of the Revenue Circles falling under the existing Soreng Sub-Division.

The boundaries of the existing districts as well as new districts referred to under sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) respectively of Section 3 of this Act, their revenue circles and revenue blocks are set out in Schedule attached herein below of this Act.

(1) The State Government may, in the interest of better administratlon and development of the areas, by notification in the Offlcial Gazette from time to time, and wlth effect on and from such date as may be specified therein; (a) form a new district or sub-division or revenue circle or revenue block, by separation or amalgamation of any area from any district or sub-division or revenue circle or revenue block or any part thereof, as the case may be; (b) alter the boundaries of any district or sub-division or revenue circle or revenue block or any part thereof, as the case may be; (2) All such alteration, modification, separation or amalgamation of any area or boundarles of any district, sub-division, revenue circle or revenue block, as the case may be, carried out before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to have been done in exercise of powers under this Act.

Any reference in any existing law to any of the existing districts shall be construed as a reference to the respective new districts constituted under this Act.

(1) lf any difficulties arise in giving effect to any of the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing those difficulties; Provided that no such power shall be exercised after the period of two (2) years from the commencement of the Act. (2) Every order made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.