Section 238(1) in Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920
(1)If it appears to the [executive authority] [These words were substituted for the word 'chairman' by section 17(1) of the Madras District Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1933 (Madras Act XV of 1933).] that any dwelling-house or other building which is used as a dwelling-place, of any room in such dwelling-house or building, is so overcrowded as to endanger the health of the inmates thereof) he may apply to a magistrate, to abate such overcrowding; and the magistrate after such inquiry as he thinks fit to make, may, by written order, require the owner of the building, or room, within a reasonable time not exceeding four weeks to be specified in the said order, to abate such overcrowding by reducing the number of lodgers, tenants or other inmates of the building or room, or may pass such other order as he may deem just and proper.
