Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, Part IV, Section 2

Land ceiling law change

The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 2024 changes part of the family definition in the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961. It came into force at once on 11 July 2024.

Key wording changes are:

• “Minor sons and unmarried daughters” is replaced by “minor children”.
• “Minor grandsons and unmarried grand-daughters” is replaced by “minor grand-children”.

The change is relevant where the family definition under the land ceiling law applies. It removes the earlier distinctions based on whether a child is a son or daughter and whether a daughter is unmarried.

Prohibition law changes affecting places

The Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2024 amends the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937. It applies to owners, occupiers, managers and persons controlling or possessing places where liquor-related activity occurs. Unlike the land reform amendment, it begins only on a date notified by the State Government.

Key provisions include:

• “Place” includes a house, shed, enclosure, building, shop, tent, booth, vehicle, cart and vessel.
• An owner or person in charge, management, control or possession of a place may be punished for allowing specified prohibited acts there.
• A place without a licence for liquor consumption must not be allowed to be used for that purpose.
• An unlicensed place used for liquor consumption may be sealed by the Prohibition Officer or an authorised officer not below the rank of Tahsildar.
• Written notice stating the grounds for sealing must be given within forty eight hours. The affected person may submit a written representation, which must be decided on its merits within seven days.
• Sealing may continue for no more than three months. An appeal may be made to the District Collector within thirty days after receiving the order, and the appeal must be decided within thirty days.

Property confiscation and offences

The Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2024 extends confiscation language to vehicles and other movable property. Confiscated property vests in the Government free from all encumbrances.

The amendment also increases punishments for several offences, makes offences carrying rigorous imprisonment of three years or more non-bailable, revises conspiracy provisions and allows an Executive Magistrate to require certain habitual offenders to provide a bond with sureties for good behaviour for up to three years.