Execution of lease.

(1) In the case of every tenancy agreement entered into after the coming into force of the Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants Protection (Amendment) Act, 1956, between a cultivating tenant and a landlord, a lease deed shall be executed in triplicate in the prescribed form, within the reasonable time after the commencement of such tenancy, specifying the name and description of the cultivating tenant, the name (if any), survey number description and extent of the land leased out, and the terms of the tenancy; and shall be signed both by the landlord or his agent and by the cultivating tenant. One of the three copies shall be kept by the landlord, one shall be kept by the cultivating tenant and the third shall be caused to be lodged in the Taluk office by the landlord or his agent within a fortnight of the date on which the cultivating the tenant signs it. Provided that if the landlord or the cultivating tenant refuses or delays unreasonably to execute the lease deed, it shall be open to the cultivating tenant or the landlord, as the case may be, to lodge the deed in the Taluk office with a declaration that the other party has refused or delayed unreasonably to execute it. (2) No stamp need be affixed to the lease deed. (3) In the case of any tenancy, if the landlord or his agent or the cultivating tenant refused to sign or fails to lodge the lease deed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the Revenue Divisional Officer may impose on the landlord or the cultivating tenant, as the case may be, a penalty which may extend to fifty rupees; and any penalty so imposed may be recovered as if it were an arrear of land revenue.