Declaration of acquisition

Section 18 of the Maharashtra Highways Act deals with declaration of acquisition. Where no objection under sub-section (1) of section 17 has been made to the Land Acquisition Officer within the period specified therein or where the Land Acquisition Officer has disallowed the objection under sub-section (2) of that section the Land Acquisition Officer shall, as soon as may be, sub The Act was enacted on 22 Dec 1955.

(1) Where no objection under sub-section (1) of section 17 has been made to the Land Acquisition Officer within the period specified therein or where the Land Acquisition Officer has disallowed the objection under sub-section (2) of that section the Land Acquisition Officer shall, as soon as may be, submit a report accordingly to the State Government and on receipt of such report, the State Government shall declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that the land should be acquired for the purpose or purposes mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 15.

(2) On the publication of such declaration under sub-section (1), the land shall vest absolutely in the State Government free from all encumbrances.

(3) Where in respect of any land, a notification has been published under sub-section (2) of section 15 for its acquisition but no declaration under sub-section (1) has been published within a period of one year from the date of publication of that notification, the said notification shall cease to have any effect :

Provided that, in computing the said period of one year, the period or periods during which any action or proceedings to be taken in pursuance of the notification issued under sub-section (2) of section 15 is stayed by an order of a court shall be excluded.

(4) A declaration made by the State Government under sub-section (1), shall not be called in question in any court or by any other authority.

Section 18, The Maharashtra Highways Act (Act 55 of 1955).