The Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993

What this law does

The Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993, Act No. 33 of 1993, is a Central law made by Parliament to acquire certain land and related property in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. It says that from the commencement of the Act, the right, title and interest in the scheduled area stand transferred to and vest in the Central Government.

The law states that it was made because of the long standing dispute relating to the structure commonly known as the Ram Janma Bhumi-Babri Masjid, and to maintain public order, communal harmony and common brotherhood.

What property is covered

The Act applies to the "area" specified in the Schedule.

Key points from the Schedule are:

• The land is in village Kot Ramchandra, Pargana Haveli Avadh, tehsil Faizabad Sadar, district Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Schedule lists many khasra plot numbers and their areas.
• It includes full plots and some part plots, including part of plot No. 204, part of plot No. 244 and part of plot No. 246, with boundary descriptions.

Legal effect of transfer to the Central Government

When the area vests in the Central Government, the transfer covers:

• lands, buildings, structures, shops and other movable and immovable property,
• leaseholds, powers, authority and privileges,
• registers, maps, plans, drawings and other related documents.

The Act also says that once vested, the property is freed from:

• trusts,
• mortgages,
• charges,
• liens,
• other encumbrances.

It further says that attachments, injunctions, decrees, orders, or receivers restricting use of the property cease to have effect, and pending suits, appeals or other proceedings about the vested property abate.

Who it affects

This law matters to:

• owners of land, buildings, structures or other property in the scheduled area,
• persons with claims against those owners,
• any person or the State Government of Uttar Pradesh that was managing the area,
• any authority, body or trust to which the Central Government may later direct vesting.

The person or State Government in charge of management before vesting must deliver assets, registers and documents, or authenticated copies where delivery is not practicable.

Payment, management and special saving

The Central Government must pay the owner cash equal to the market value of the land, building, structure or other property. A Claims Commissioner is to be appointed by notification in the Official Gazette to decide claims.

Claims may be made within ninety days from commencement, with a possible further ninety days if sufficient cause is shown.

The Central Government or an authorised person manages the property and must ensure that the position existing before the commencement of the Act in the area on which the disputed structure stood is maintained.

The Act repeals the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Ordinance, 1993. But it specifically says plot No. 242 is to be treated as never having vested in the Central Government, and related proceedings and actions concerning that plot are treated as restored or undone accordingly.