Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956

Act No. 96 of 1956 In force from 08-02-1957 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs 44 sections

An Act to provide for the improvement and clearance of slum areas in certain Union territories and for the protection of tenants in such areas from eviction.

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Chapter I: Preliminary

• 1 Short title, extent and commencement
• 2 Definitions

Chapter II: Slum Areas

• 3 Declaration of slum areas

Chapter III: Slum Improvement

• 4 Power of competent authority to require improvement of buildings unfit for human habitation
• 5 Inforcement of notice requiring execution of works of improvement
• 6 Expenses of maintenance of works of improvement etc., to be recoverable from the occupiers of buildings
• 6A Restriction on building, etc., in slum areas
• 7 Power of competent authority to order demolition of buildings unfit for human habitation
• 8 Procedure to be followed where demolition order has been made

Chapter IV: Slum Clearance and Re-Development

• 9 Power to declare any slum area to be a clearance area
• 10 Slum clearance order
• 11 Power of competent authority to re-develop clearance area

Chapter V: Acquisition of Land

• 12 Power of Central Government to acquire land
• 13 Land acquired by Central Government to be made available to the competent authority
• 14 Right to receive compensation
• 15 Basis for determination of compensation
• 16 Apportionment of compensation
• 17 Payment of compensation or deposit of the same in court
• 18 Powers of competent authority in relation to determination of compensation, etc

Chapter VI: Protection of Tenants in Slum Areas From Eviction

• 19 Proceedings for eviction of tenants not to be taken without permission of the competent authority 9 judgments
• 20 Appeals
• 20A Restoration of possession of premises vacated by a tenant
• 20B Rent of buildings in slum areas
• 21 Chapter not to apply to eviction of tenants from certain buildings

Chapter VII: Miscellaneous

• 22 Powers of entry
• 23 Powers of inspection
• 24 Power to enter land adjoining land where work is in progress
• 25 Breaking into buildings
• 26 Entry to be made in the day time
• 27 Owner's consent ordinarily to be obtained
• 28 Power of eviction to be exercised only by the competent authority
• 29 Power to remove offensive or dangerous trades from slum areas
• 30 Appeals
• 31 Service of notices, etc
• 32 Penalties
• 33 Order of demolition of buildings in certain cases
• 34 Jurisdiction of courts
• 35 Previous sanction of the competent authority or officers authorised by it, for prosecution
• 36 Power to delegate
• 37 Protection of action taken in good faith
• 37A Bar of jurisdiction
• 38 Competent authority, etc., to be public servants
• 39 Act to over-ride other laws 1 judgment
• 40 Power to make rules

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.