Section 45C of The Kerala Stamp Act, 1959 (No.17 of 1959) View Chapter 4

Purchase of land by Government:

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 45A or section 45B, where a registering officer while registering any instrument, other than an instrument of partition, settlement or gist, among the members of a family, transferring any property, has reason to believe that the value of the land of the consideration set forth in the instrument is less by fifteen per cent or more of the fair value of the land fixed under section 28A, he may refer the same to the Collector for an order for purchase of the land by the Government.

(2) On receipt of a reference under subsection (1) the Collector shall, after giving the parties a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after holding an enquiry in the manner as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act, by order, determine the duty based on the fair value of the land and direct the person liable to pay the duty to pay the deficit amount of duty together with such time as he may fix, which shall not be less than twenty one days and, on payment of such duty, the Collector shall endorse a certificated of such payment on the instrument under his seal and signature and thereupon the instrument shall duly registering officer.

(3) Where the person fails to comply with the direction under sub section (3), the Collector shall order for the purpose of the land by the Government by the Government by paying the value of land of consideration set forth in the instrument together with an amount equal to twenty five cent of such value or consideration.

(4) Where an order for the purpose of any land by the Government is made under subsection (3), the Government shall pay by way of consideration for such purchase an amount equal to the amount specified in the said subsection and on payment of such amount, the land shall vest in the Government free form all encumbrances.

(5) Any person aggrieved by an action under subsection (4) may, within thirty days of the date of purchase by the Government, appeal to the District Court within whose jurisdiction the property purchases in situate”;] 1

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Footnote :

  1. Section 45C inserted by Kerala Finance Act, 1994, (Act 19 of 1994) with effect from 1-4-1994.