16. Land acquired to vest in Government free from all encumbrances.
(1)When a notice under sub-section (1) of section 15 is published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, the land to which the said notice shall, on and from the date of such publication, vest absolutely in the Government free from all encumbrances:Provided that if before actual possession of such land is taken by or on behalf of the Government, it appears for the Government, that the land is no more required for the purpose of this Act, the Government may, by notice published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, withdraw the land from t acquisition. On the publication of such notice, the land shall revest with retrospective effect in the person from whom it was divested of on the issue of order under sub-section (1) of section 15, subject to such encumbrance, if any, as may be subsisting at that time:Provided further that the owner and other persons interested shall be entitled to payment of an amount as determined in accordance with the provisions of section 19 for the damages, if any, suffered by them in consequence of the acquisition proceedings.(2)Where any land is vested in the Government under sub-section (1), the Government may, by order, direct any person who may be in possession of the land to surrender or deliver possession thereof to the Collector or any person duly authorised by him in this behalf, within-thirty days of the service of the order.(3)If any person refuses or fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (2), the Collector may take possession of the land and, may for that purpose, use such force as may be necessary.
