Powers of requisitioning and acquisition

(1) If in the opinion of the State Government it is necessary or expedient for maintaining, increasing or securing the supply of any essential article or for arranging for its equitable distribution and availability at fair prices, the State Government may, by order, requisition any property, movable or immovable, and may make such further orders as appear to them to be necessary or expedient in connexion with the requisitioning : Provided that no property used for the purpose of religious worship shall be requisitioned under this section: Provided further that buildings solely used for residential purposes shall not ordinarily be requisitioned. (2) Where the State Government have requisitioned any property under sub-section (1), they may use or deal with the property in such manner as may appear to them to be expedient and may acquire it by serving on the owner, or where the owner is not readily traceable or the ownership is in dispute, by publishing in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, a notice stating that the State Government have decided to acquire it in pursuance of this section. (3) Where a notice of acquisition is served on the owner, or is published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, under sub-section (2), then, at the beginning of the day on which the notice is so served or published, the property shall vest absolutely in the State Government free from all encumbrances and the period of requisition thereof shall end.