79B. Prohibition of holding agricultural land by certain persons.—
(1)With effect on and from the date of commencement of the Amendment Act,except as otherwise provided in this Act,—(a)no person other than a person cultivating land personally shall be entitled to hold land; and(b)it shall not be lawful for,-(i)an educational, religious or charitable institution or society or trust, other than an institution or society or trust referred to in subsection (7) of section 63, capable of holding property;(ii)a company;(iii)an association or other body of individuals not being a joint family, whether incorporated or not; or(iv)a co-operative society other than a co-operative farm, to hold any land.(2)Every such institution, society, trust, company, association, body or co-operative society,—(a)which holds lands on the date of commencement of the Amendment Act and which is disentitled to hold lands under sub-section (1), shall, within ninety days from the said date, furnish to the Tahsildar within whose jurisdiction the greater part of such land is situated a declaration containing the particulars of such land and such other particulars as may prescribed; and(b)which acquires such land after the said date shall also furnish a similar declaration within the prescribed period.(3)The Tahsildar shall, on receipt of the declaration under sub-section (2) and after such enquiry as may be prescribed, send a statement containing the prescribed particulars relating to such land to the Deputy Commissioner who shall, by notification, declare that such land shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances and take possession thereof in the prescribed manner.(4)In respect of the land vesting in the State Government under this section an amount as specified in section 72 shall be paid.Explanation.—For purposes of this section it shall be presumed that a land is held by an institution, trust, company, association or body where it is held by an individual on its behalf.
