S.1 Short title, extent and commencement

       (1) This Act may be called the Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1952.
       
       (2) It extends to the whole of the Uttar Pradesh.
       
       (3) [* * *].

S.2 Definitions

       In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-
       
       (a) "Bhoodan Yagna" means the movement initiated by Sri Acharya Vinoba Bhave for acquisition of land through voluntary gifts with a view to distribute it to landless persons;
       (b) "holding" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the U.P. Tenancy Act, 1939.
       (c) "owner" means, as respects any land-
       (i) in areas where the rights of intermediaries have. vested in the State Government under section 4 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, its [bhumidhar or Government lessee] as the case may be;
       (ii) in areas where the U.P. Tenancy Act, 1939, is in force for the time bei

S.3 Establishment and incorporation of the Bhoodan Yagna Committee

There shall be established a Bhoodan Yagna Committee for Uttar Pradesh (hereinafter called the Committee) having perpetual succession which shall be a body corporate vested with the capacity of suing and being sued in its corporate names acquiring, holding, administering and transferring property, both movable and immovable and entering into contracts.

S.4 Constitution of the Committee

       (1) The Committee shall consist of the following members, namely-
       
       (a) the Chairman to be nominated by [the State Government];
       (b) four or more but not exceeding nine members to be nominated by [the State Government];
       (2) [* * *].
       
       (3) The nomination [* * *] of the Chairman and of the members shall be notified in the Gazette in the manner prescribed.
       
       (4) The Chairman and members of the committee shall hold office for four years from the date of the Notification under sub-section (3), and shall be eligible for a reappointment or re-nomination.
    

S.5 Dissolution of the Committee

       (1) If at any time the State Government is satisfied that-
       
       (a) the Committee has failed without reasonable cause or excuse to discharge duties or to perform function imposed or assigned by or under this Act,
       (b) circumstances have so arisen that the Committee is rendered unable or may be rendered unable to discharge duties or to perform functions imposed or assigned by or under this Act, or
       (c) it is otherwise expedient or necessary to dissolve the Committee. It may by notification in the official Gazette-
       (i) dissolve the Committee for the period to be specified;
       (ii) direct the reconstitution of the Committee in accordance with the provisions of section 4 o

S.6 Casual vacancies and other matters about the Committee

The method of filling up casual vacancies in the Committee, procedure of its working and the conduct of its business shall be such as may be prescribed.

S.7 Duties of the Committee

       (1) It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer all lands vested in it for the benefit of the Bhoodan Yagna.
       
       (2) The Committee shall for the purpose of Bhoodan Yagna perform such other functions and possess such other powers as may be necessary in respect of such land.

S.8 Donation of land to Bhoodan Yagna

       (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, any person, being the owner of land, may donate and grant such land to the "Bhoodan Yagna" by a declaration in writing in that behalf hereinafter called the Bhoodan declaration in the manner prescribed.
       
       (2) The Bhoodan declaration shall be filed with the Tahsildar as soon as it is made.

S.9 Publication of and investigation upon the declaration

       Upon receipt of the Bhoodan declaration the Tahsildar shall-
       
       (a) publish the same for objections;
       [(aa) give notice of the same to the concerned Gaon Sabha; and]
       (b) make a summary inquiry as to the right, title, and interest of the donor in such land.

S.10 Donor competent to donate land

Notwithstanding anything contained in the UP. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, U.P. Tenancy Act, 1939, or any other law relating to land tenure as may be applicable an owner shall be competent for purposes of this Act to donate the land held by him as such to the Bhoodan Yagna.

S.11 Filing, hearing and disposal of objections

       (1) Any person whose interests are affected by the Bhoodan declaration made under section 8 may, within thirty days of the publication of the declaration, file objections on the same before the Tahsildar.
       
       (2) The Tahsildar shall register every such objection and shall fix a date of hearing, of which notice shall be given to the declarant, the objector and [the concerned Gaon Sabha].
       
       (3) On the date of hearing or any other date to which it may be postponed the Tahsildar shall proceed to investigate and dispose of the objection and shall subject to the provisions of Section 12-
       
       (a) either confirm the Bhoodan declaration, or
     

S.12 Lands which cannot be donated

       Notwithstanding anything contained in any law an owner shall not, for purposes of this Act, be entitled to donate the land falling in any of the following classes, namely:-
       
       (a) lands which on the date of donation are recorded or by usage treated as common pasture lands, cremation or burial grounds, tank, pathway or threshing floor; and
       (b) land in which the interest of the owner is limited to the life-time, and
       (c) such other land as the State Government may by notification in the Gazette specify.

S.13 Lands donated prior to the commencement of this Act

       (1) Where any land has been donated to the Bhoodan Yagna prior to the commencement of this Act, the Collector shall prepare a list of all such lands other than lands to which the provisions of section 12 apply showing therein-
       
       (a) the area and other particulars of the land;
       (b) the name and address of the donor;
       (c) date of donation;
       (d) the nature of the interest of the donor in the land;
       (e) if the land has already been granted to any person in pursuance of the Bhoodan Yagna, the name and address of the person to whom the land has been granted (hereinafter called the grantee);
       (f) the date of the grant under sub

S.14 Grant of land to landless persons

       [(1)] The Committee or such other authority or person as the Committee with the approval of the State Government, specify either generally or in respect of any area, may, in the manner prescribed, grant lands which have vested in it to the [landless agricultural labourers] and the grantee of the land shall-
       
       (i) where the land is situate in any state which has vested in the State Government under and in accordance with section 4 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, acquire in such land the right and the liabilities of a [bhumidhar with non-transferable rights] and the grantee of the land shall-
       (ii) where it is situate in any other area, acquire therein such rights and liabilities and subject to such conditions, restrictions and limitations as may be prescribed and shal

S.15 Grants to be made in accordance with Bhoodan Yagna Scheme

All grants shall be made as far as may be in accordance with the scheme of Bhoodan Yagna.

S.15(A) Cancellation of certain grants

       (1) The Collector may of his own motion and shall on the report of the committee or on the application of any person aggrieved by the grant of any land made under Section 14, whether before or after the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Bhoodan Yagna (Amendment) Act, 1975, inquire into such grant, and if he is satisfied that the grant was irregular or was obtained by the grantee by misrepresentation or fraud, he may-
       
       (i) cancel the grant, and on such cancellation, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14 or in any other law for the time being in force, the rights, title and interest of the grantee or any person claiming through him in such land shall cease, and the land shall revert to the committee; and
       (ii) direct delivery of possession of such land to the committee after ejectment

S.16 Exemption from stamp duty and registration

The Bhoodar declaration made or deemed to be made under section 6 or a grant of land made or deemed to be made under section 14 shall be and be deemed always to have been exempt from payment of stamp duty and from registration or attestation under law relating to registration and execution of documents, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

S.17 Power to make rules

       (1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
       
       (2) Without prejudice to the generality of foregoing powers, such rules may provide for-
       
       (a) the matters relating to the establishment, constitution of the committee, [and nomination of Chairman and the members thereof]as the case may be;
       (b) the form of Bhoodan declaration and the manner in which it shall be filed;
       (c) the documents to be filed with the Bhoodan declaration;
       (d) the manner of publication of the Bhoodan declaration;
       (e) the nature, scope and manne