Vidhi Codex

The Punjab Laws Act, 1872

The Punjab Laws Act, 1872

General187264 sections

The Punjab Laws Act of 1872 clarifies the foundational legal framework applicable to territories comprising Punjab and Delhi before November 1956. It primarily regulates civil matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property, dictating that courts apply valid local customs alongside traditional Hindu or Muhammadan laws for the respective parties. The Act also establishes rules for local administration and policing, including village-watchmen, criminal tracking, and public order issues like roaming armed bands. This legislation matters because it formalized a justice system that respected indigenous community customs while setting uniform administrative controls, ensuring predictable governance tailored to the region's diverse populations.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title.
  2. 2. Local extent.
  3. 3. Enactments in force.
  4. 4. [Repealed.].
  5. 5. Decisions in certain cases to be according to Native law.
  6. 6. Decisions in cases not specially provided for.
  7. 7. Local customs and mercantile usages when valid.
  8. 8. [Repealed.].
  9. 8-A. Repealed..
  10. 8-B. Repealed..
  11. 8-C. Repealed..
  12. 9. [Repealed.].
  13. 10. [Repealed.].
  14. 11. [Repealed.].
  15. 12. [Repealed.].
  16. 13. [Repealed.].
  17. 14. [Repealed.].
  18. 15. [Repealed.].
  19. 16. [Repealed.].
  20. 17. [Repealed.].
  21. 18. [Repealed.].
  22. 19. [Repealed.].
  23. 20. [Repealed.].
  24. 21. [Repealed.].
  25. 22. [Repealed.].
  26. 23. [Repealed.].
  27. 24. [Repealed.].
  28. 25. [Repealed.].
  29. 26. [Repealed.].
  30. 27. [Repealed.].
  31. 28. [Repealed.].
  32. 29. [Repealed.].
  33. 30. [Repealed.].
  34. 31. [Repealed.].
  35. 32. [Repealed.].
  36. 33. [Repealed.].
  37. 34. [Repealed.].
  38. 35. [Repealed.].
  39. 36. [Repealed.].
  40. 37. [Repealed.].
  41. 38. [Repealed.].
  42. 39. Indian Penal Code to apply to offences committed previous to 1st January, 1862.
  43. 39-A. Power to establish system of village-watchmen, and municipal-watchmen and to make rules
  44. 39-B. Obligation to assist watchmen and headmen. Person obstructing watchman or headman may be arrested without warrant
  45. 39-C. Power to direct local taxation for payment of police enrolled under Act 5 of 1861.
  46. 39-D. Notice of taxes proposed to be levied. Objections to taxation. Procedure thereon.
  47. 39-E. Power to fix rates of tax.
  48. 39-F. Power to make rules for collection of taxes
  49. 39-G. Repealed..
  50. 40. State Government may confer powers of police-officer.
  51. 41. Trackers may call for assistance in carrying on tracks.
  52. 42. Penalty for withholding assistance or conniving at offence or escape.
  53. 43. Control of slaughter of kine and sale of beef.
  54. 44. Control of entry into towns of bands of armed men.
  55. 45. Powers of Magistrate of district as to foreign vagrants.
  56. 46. Surveillance, etc., of band failing to comply with Magistrate's order.
  57. 47. Crossing of streams on buoys or skins.
  58. 48. Use of pasturage or natural product of Government land.
  59. 49. [Replead.].
  60. 50. Power to make rules as to matters mentioned in Sections 43 to 48.
  61. 50-A. Conditions of validity of rules hereafter made under this Act
  62. 50-B. Penalties for breach of such rules
  63. 51. Republication of rules and orders.
  64. 52. [Repealed.].

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