238. Adjudication of disputes between local authorities.
(1)When a dispute exists between a Village Panchayat or a Panchayat Union Council or a District Panchayat and one or more other local authorities in regard to any matter arising under the provisions of this or any other Act and the Government are of opinion that the Village Panchayat or the Panchayat Union Council or the District Panchayat and the other local authorities concerned are unable to settle it amicably among themselves, the Government may take cognizance of the dispute, and -(a)decide it themselves, or(b)refer it for inquiry and report, to an Arbitrator or a board of Arbitrators or to a joint committee constituted for the purpose.(2)The report referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be submitted to the Government who shall decide the dispute in such manner as they deem fit.(3)Any decision given under clause (a) of sub-section (1) or under sub-section (2) may be modified, from time to time, by the Government in such manner as they deem fit and any such-decision with the modifications, if any, made therein under this sub-section may be cancelled at any time by the Government:Provided that any such decision or any modification therein or cancellation thereof shall be binding on the Village Panchayat, the Panchayat Union Council, the District Panchayat and each of the other local authorities concerned and shall not be liable to be questioned in any Court of law.(4)Where one of the local authorities concerned is a cantonment authority or the port authority of a major port, the powers of the Government under this section shall be exercisable only with the concurrence of the Central Government.
