Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005.

ILLEGAL DISPOSSESSION ACT, 2005
ACT No. XI OF 2005

An Act to curb the activities of the property grabbers
WHEREAS it is expedient to protect the lawful owners and occupiers of immovable
properties from their illegal or forcible dispossession therefrom by the property grabbers;
1. Short title, extent and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Illegal
Dispossession Act, 2005.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,__
(a) "Court" means the Court of Session;
(b) "Code" means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898);
(c) "occupier" means the person who is in lawful possession of a property;
(d) "owner" means the person who actually owns the property at the time of his
dispossession, otherwise than through a process of law; and
(e) "Property" means immovable property.
3. Prevention of illegal possession of property, etc.- (1) No one shall enter into or
upon any property to dispossess, grab, control or occupy it without having any lawful authority
to do so with the intention to dispossess, grab, control or occupy the property from owners or
occupier of such property.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of the subsection (1) shall, without prejudice
to, any punishment to which he may be liable under any other law for the time being in force,
be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to ten years and with fine and the victim
of the offence shall also be compensated in accordance with the provision of section 544-A of
the Code.
4. Cognizance of offence.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code or any
law for the time being in force, the 'contravention of section 3 shall be triable by the Court of
Session on a complaint.
(2) The offence under this Act shall be non-cognizable.
(3) The Court at any stage of the proceedings may direct the police to arrest the accused.
5. Investigation and procedure.- (1) Upon a complaint the Court may direct the
officer-in-charge of a police station to investigate and complete the investigation and forward
the same within fifteen days to the Court:
Provided the Court may extend the time within which such report is to be forwarded in
case where good reasons are shown for not doing so within the time specified in this subsection.
(2) On taking cognizance of a case, the Court shall proceed with the trial from day to
day and shall decide the case within sixty days and for any delay, sufficient reasons shall be
recorded.
1
(3) The Court shall not adjourn the trial for any purpose unless such adjournment is, in
its opinion, necessary in the interest of justice and no adjournment shall in any case be granted
for more than seven days.
6. Power to attach property.- (1) If the Court is satisfied that none of the persons are
in possession immediately before the commission of the offence, the Court may attach the
property until final decision of the case.
(2) In case of attachment, the methods of its management, safeguard against natural
decay or deterioration shall be determined by the Court.
7. Eviction and mode of recovery as an interim relief.- (1) If during trial the Court is
satisfied that a person is found prima facie to be not in lawful possession, the Court shall, as an
interim relief direct him to put the owner or occupier, as the case may be, in possession.
(2) Where the person against whom any such order is passed under subsection (1) fails
to comply with the same, the Court shall, notwithstanding any other law for the time being in
force, take such steps and pass such order as may be necessary to put the owner or occupier in
possession.
(3) The Court may authorize any official or officer to take possession for securing
compliance with its orders under subsection (1). The person so authorized may use or cause to
be used such force as may be necessary.
(4) If any person, authorized by the Court, under subsection (3), requires police
assistance in the exercise of his power under this Act, he may send a requisition to the officer-
in-charge of a police station who shall on such requisition render such assistance as may be
required.
(5) The failure of the officer-in-charge of police station to render assistance under
subsection (4) shall amount to misconduct for which the Court may direct departmental action
against him.
8. Delivery of possession of property to owner, etc.- (1) On conclusion of trial, if the
Court finds that an owner or occupier of the property was illegally dispossessed or property
was grabbed in contravention of section 3, the Court may, at the time of passing order under
subsection (2) of that section, direct the accused or any person claiming through him for
restoration of the possession of the property to the owner or, as the case may be, the occupier,
if not already restored to him under section 7.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the Court may, where it is required, direct the
officer-in-charge of the police station for such assistance as may be required for restoration of
the possession of the property to the owner or, as the case may be, the occupier.
9. Application of Code. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), shall apply to proceedings under this Act.
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ILLEGAL DISPOSSESSION ACT, 2005

ACT No. XI OF 2005

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