Section12
The Cantonments Act, 2006

Constitution of Cantonment of Boards

In force From 18 Dec 2006 Act 41 of 2006 As on 19 Oct 2026

Act 41 of 2006 Ministry Defence Enacted 13 Sep 2006 In force 18 Dec 2006 Cited by 5 provisions Instruments 1

Section 12 of the Cantonments Act, 2006 deals with constitution of Cantonment of Boards. Cantonments shall be divided into four categories, namely:-- (i) Category I Cantonments, in which the population exceeds fifty thousand; The Act came into force on 18 Dec 2006.

Cantonments shall be divided into four categories, namely:--

(i) Category I Cantonments, in which the population exceeds fifty thousand;

(ii) Category II Cantonments, in which the population exceeds ten thousand, but does not exceed fifty thousand;

(iii) Category III Cantonments, in which the population exceeds two thousand five hundred, but does not exceed ten thousand; and

(iv) Category IV Cantonments, in which the population does not exceed two thousand five hundred.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the population shall be calculated in accordance with the latest official census, or, if the Central Government, by general or special order, so directs, in accordance with a special census taken for the purpose.

(3) In Category I Cantonments, the Board shall consist of the following members, namely:--

(a) the Officer Commanding the station as ex officio or, if the Central Government so directs in respect of any cantonment, such other military officer as may be nominated in his place by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command;

(b) the District Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate nominated by him;

(c) the Chief Executive Officer;

(d) the Health Officer ex officio;

(e) the Executive Engineer ex officio;

(f) three military officers nominated by name by the Officer Commanding the station by order in writing;

(g) eight members elected under this Act.

(4) In Category II Cantonments, the Board shall consist of the following members, namely:--

(a) the Officer Commanding the station as ex officio or, if the Central Government so directs in respect of any cantonment, such other military officer as may be nominated in his place by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command;

(b) the District Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate nominated by him;

(c) the Chief Executive Officer;

(d) the Health Officer ex officio;

(e) the Executive Engineer ex officio;

(f) two military officers nominated by name by the Officer Commanding the station by order in writing;

(g) seven members elected under this Act.

(5) In Category III Cantonments, the Board shall consist of the following members, namely:--

(a) the Officer Commanding the station as ex officio or, if the Central Government so directs in respect of any cantonment, such other military officer, as may be nominated in his place by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command;

(b) the District Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate nominated by him;

(c) the Chief Executive Officer;

(d) the Health Officer ex officio;

(e) the Executive Engineer ex officio;

(f) one military officer nominated by name by the Officer Commanding the station by order in writing;

(g) six members elected under this Act.

(6) In Category IV Cantonments, the Board shall consist of the following members, namely:--

(a) the Officer Commanding the station ex officio or, if the Central Government so directs in respect of any cantonment, such other military officer as may be nominated in his place by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command;

(b) the Chief Executive Officer;

(c) two members elected under this Act.

(7) The Officer Commanding the station may, if he thinks fit, with the sanction of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the Command, nominate in place of any military officer whom he is empowered to nominate under clause (f) of sub-section (3), clause (f) of sub-section (4) or clause (f) of sub-section (5), any person, whether in the service of the Government or not, who is ordinarily resident in the cantonment or in the vicinity thereof.

(8) Every election or nomination of a member of a Board and every vacancy in the elected membership thereof shall be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette;

(9) The Member of Parliament and Member of Legislative Assembly representing constituencies which comprises wholly or partly the cantonment area, shall be special invitees for the meetings of the Board but without a right to vote.

Section 12, The Cantonments Act, 2006 (Act 41 of 2006).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Judgments citing this section

These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.

  1. High Court 06 Jan 2020 HPHC010275222018

    … of the Act empowers the Central Government to alter the limits of the cantonments and Sections 6 and 7 provide that balance cantonment fund, cantonment development fund or other property of the Cantonment area which ceased to be a cantonment or ceased to be included in a cantonment, vests in the Central Government. Section 12 of the Cantonments Act provides constitution of four categories of Cantonment Board and in all these categories, Officer Commanding the station or any other Officer under direction of the Central Government, shall be ex officio member of the Cantonment Board along with other members including military officer and …

    Read this order on eCourtsIndia

Made under this section, and citing it

1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 12

What does Section 12 of the Cantonments Act deal with?

Section 12 of the Cantonments Act is headed "Constitution of Cantonment of Boards". Cantonments shall be divided into four categories, namely:-- (i) Category I Cantonments, in which the population exceeds fifty thousand;

How do I find court cases under Section 12 of the Cantonments Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Cantonments Act 2006 12, section 12 Cantonments Act 2006, section 12 of the Cantonments Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 12 of the Cantonments Act, and has it changed?

5 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently The Cantonment Property Rules, 2017 (2017).

When did Section 12 of the Cantonments Act come into force?

Section 12 of the Cantonments Act, cited as Cantonments Act 2006 12, came into force on 18 Dec 2006, having been enacted on 13 Sep 2006. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.