Power to assume management of land.

(1) Notwithstanding any law for the time being in force or any usage or custom or the terms of any contract or grant, if it appears to Government that for any two consecutive years including any period before the commencement of this Act any land has remained uncultivated through default either of the landholder or of the tenant, or that cultivation of any land has seriously suffered for any other cause whatsoever, or that any land capable of being used, if reclaimed or otherwise improved howsoever, has not been so reclaimed or otherwise improved, and cultivated or that any land is remaining as a pasture land in excess of the ordinary grazing requirements of the cattle of the persons entitled to graze cattle thereon, the Government may after such enquiry as may be prescribed declare by notification in the Official Gazette that the management of such land shall be assumed, and such declaration shall be conclusive.

(2) On the publication of a notification under sub-section (1), Government or an officer authorised by Government in this behalf shall appoint a manager to be in-charge of the land and the manager so appointed shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.