Primary law, Tamil Nadu land law
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957, Act 22 of 1957, is a primary law of the State of Tamil Nadu that extended specified laws to Kanyakumari district and the Shencottah taluk of Tirunelveli district. It received the President's assent on 14 December 1957, was first published in the Fort St. George Gazette on 18 December 1957, and the printed Act states that it came into force at once. The reproduced text includes later terminology changes made through Tamil Nadu adaptation orders.
What the Act does
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957, Act 22 of 1957, applies a listed body of laws to the transferred territory. The Act defines that territory as Kanyakumari district and the Shencottah taluk of Tirunelveli district.
The extension covers laws that were already in force elsewhere in Tamil Nadu when the Act commenced, to the extent that they concerned matters on which the State Legislature could make laws. The Schedule includes laws dealing with town planning, revenue administration, cooperative land mortgage banks, shops and establishments, prohibition, prisons, public health and other subjects.
Why it may matter for land and property
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957 may be relevant when examining the historical legal framework for property in the transferred territory. Important land related provisions include:
- The Tamil Nadu Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923 was expressly extended to the transferred territory.
- The Tamil Nadu Town-Planning Act, 1920 appears in the Schedule of extended laws.
- Revenue regulations and enactments concerning revenue summonses and revenue enquiries also appear in the Schedule.
- The Schedule includes the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Land Mortgage Banks Act, 1934, with a note referring to the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Land Development Banks Act, 1934.
Replacement of earlier laws
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957 repealed corresponding laws previously operating in the transferred territory, but only for matters within the State Legislature's lawmaking power. It also specifically repealed, to the extent they applied there, the Travancore Rationing Preparatory Measures Act, 1119, the Travancore-Cochin High Court Act, 1125, and the Code of Civil Procedure (Travancore-Cochin Amendment) Act, 1951.
Protection for earlier actions and rights
The Tamil Nadu (Transferred Territory) Extension of Laws Act, 1957 preserves the previous operation of repealed laws and protects rights, privileges, obligations and liabilities already acquired or incurred. Existing investigations, legal proceedings, remedies, penalties and punishments could continue.
Appointments, notifications, orders, rules, permits, licences, certificates and registrations made under corresponding earlier laws were treated as having been made under the newly extended enactments. They continued until replaced by action under those enactments. Courts and authorities could make non-substantive adaptations needed to apply the extended laws in the transferred territory.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does the Act apply throughout Tamil Nadu?
Its extension provisions specifically concern the transferred territory, defined as Kanyakumari district and the Shencottah taluk of Tirunelveli district.
Did the Act extend survey and boundary law to Kanyakumari district?
Yes. The Tamil Nadu Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923 was expressly extended to the transferred territory.
Did old permits or registrations automatically become invalid?
No. Permits, licences, certificates, registrations and other actions under corresponding earlier laws continued as actions under the extended enactments unless and until they were superseded.
Were existing property rights lost when corresponding laws were repealed?
The Act states that repeal did not affect rights, privileges, obligations or liabilities already acquired, accrued or incurred. Related legal proceedings and remedies could also continue.
