Encroachment by group of persons on Government land and their eviction

(1) Where the District Collector knows or has reason to believe that a group or group of persons, without any entitlement and with the common object of occupying any land, which is the property of the Government, are occupying or have occupied any such land, and if such group or groups of persons have not vacated the land on demand by the District Collector or any officer authorised by him in this behalf, the District Collector shall, notwithstanding anything in this Act, order without any notice, the immediate eviction of the encroacher from the land and the taking of possession of the land; and thereupon it shall be lawful for any officer authorised by District Collector in this behalf to evict the encroachers from the land by force, taking such police assistance as may be necessary, and take possession of the land. (2) Where, in any proceedings taken under this section, or in consequence of anything done under this section, a question arises as to whether any land is the property of the Government, such land shall be presumed to be the property of the Government until the contrary is proved. (3) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, but subject to the provisions of section 12A, any order of eviction passed by the District Collector under sub-section (1) shall be final and shall not be questioned in any court.