Vidhi Codex

The Punjab District Boards Act, 1883

The Punjab District Boards Act, 1883

General188379 sections5 chapters

The Punjab District Boards Act of 1883 established a system of local self-government across the province of Punjab. It regulates the creation and specific duties of district and local boards, empowering them to manage essential public services like roads, schools, hospitals, and water supply. The new law primarily applies to landholders, who are required to pay a local rate based on their land's value to fund these public initiatives, and the appointed or elected board members. This legislation matters deeply because it decentralized administrative power, allowing local communities to directly fund, manage, and improve their own infrastructure and public welfare.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title.
  2. 2Repeal of Act V of 1878.
  3. 3Definitions.
  4. 4Powers exercisable from time to time.

Chapter II OF THE LOCAL RATE ON LAND →

  1. 5The local rate.
  2. 6Road, school and post cesses to merge in the rate.
  3. 7Liability for local rate.
  4. 8Power to recover a share of the rate from occupancy-tenant.
  5. 9Appropriation of proceeds of local rate.

Chapter III CHAPTER III →

  1. 10Establishment of district and local boards.
  2. 11Number and appointment or election of members.
  3. 12Term of office of members.
  4. 13Resignation of members.
  5. 14Powers of the Local Government as to removal of mothers.
  6. 15Filling of casual vacancies.
  7. 16Incorporation of district boards.
  8. 17Time for district and local boards coming into existence.
  9. 18Chairman.
  10. 19Vice-chairman.
  11. 20Duties of district board.
  12. 21Duties of local board.
  13. 22Limits on expenditure of local board.
  14. 23Power for district board to provide for performance of duty in default of local board.
  15. 24Joint committees.
  16. 25Record and publication of proceedings.
  17. 26Power to make rules as to business and affairs.
  18. 27Employment of officers and servants.
  19. 28Pensions of Government officials serving boards.
  20. 29Pensions of servants of boards.
  21. 30Powers of taxation conferred on district boards.
  22. 31Procedure in imposing taxes.
  23. 32Reduction and abolition of tax.
  24. 33Levy of fees.
  25. 34Additional funds to be provided by the Government.
  26. 35District fund.
  27. 36Vesting, custody and investment of district fund.
  28. 37Application of district fund.
  29. 38Works or undertakings benefiting several districts.
  30. 39Annual estimates of income and expenditure of district boards.
  31. 40Accounts of district boards.
  32. 41Estimates and accounts of local boards.
  33. 42Inspection of estimates and accounts.
  34. 43Publication of abstract of accounts.
  35. 44Control of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner over boards and joint committees.
  36. 45Power to suspend action.
  37. 46Extraordinary powers of Deputy Commissioner in ease of emergency.
  38. 47Power to provide for performance of duties in case of default of board.
  39. 48Power to invest other officers with power of control.
  40. 49Report of action under preceding sections.
  41. 50Powers of Local Government and its officers over boards.
  42. 51Power of Local Government to supersede in case of incompetency, persistent default abuse of powers.
  43. 52Consequences of supersession.
  44. 53Constitution of new board, and transfer of functions of superseded local boards.
  45. 54Disputes.
  46. 55Power of the Governor General in Council and the Local Government to make rules.
  47. 56Power to make regulations.
  48. 57Penalty for infringement of regulations.
  49. 58Prosecutions.
  50. 59Liability of members of boards.
  51. 60Procedure for making rules and regulations.
  52. 61Acquisition of land.
  53. 62Penalty on member, officer or servant being interested in contracts made with a board or joint committee.
  54. 63Saving for Act XI of 1879.
  55. 64General powers of Local Government and Commissioners.
  56. 65Contracts of local Committees.
  57. 66Government officers serving under committees to continue under board.
  58. 67Power of Local Government to except local area from operation of Act.
  59. 68Committee to be constituted for district wholly excepted from Act.
  60. 69Power to direct that Act XX of 1856 shall cease to be in force.

Chapter IV SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS AS TO TAXATION →

  1. 70Recovery of rates.
  2. 71Local rate or tax how to be assessed and collected.
  3. 72Appeals.
  4. 73Instalments of rates and taxes.
  5. 74Power of Local Government to exempt from taxation.
  6. 75Power to direct measurements.
  7. 76Suits relating to rates and taxes under this Act cognizable by Courts having cognizance of suits for rent.
  8. 77Confirmation and recovery of existing rates.
  9. 78[Repealed.].
  10. 79[Repealed.].

Chapter V AMENTDMENT OF THE NORTHEN INDIA FERRIES ACT, 1878 REPEALED.. →

    PDF: pending for this language.