Land Act, 1950

Purchase of land offered for sale.

27.—(1) Where—

(a) any interest in land is offered for sale, and

(b) the interest carries the right to vacant possession of the land, and

(c) the Land Commission require the land for the provision of new holdings for migrants or to facilitate re-arrangement of lands held in rundale or intermixed plots

the Land Commission may purchase such interest for cash.

(2) Provision as to arrears of rates in respect of land an interest in which is purchased under this section may, notwithstanding any other enactment, be such as may be agreed upon between the vendor and the Land Commission.

(3) Where any sum whatsoever in respect of land, an interest in which is purchased under this section, is or becomes due to the Land Commission by the vendor, in respect of any period ending on or before the day on which the Land Commission obtain possession of the land, the Land Commission, notwithstanding, anything contained in any contract, may deduct that sum (including costs and expenses, if any, properly incurred in seeking the recovery thereof) from the purchase price. For the purposes of this sub-section, where any purchase annuity, annual sum or other payment is payable under the Land Purchase Acts in respect of the land and the date on which the Land Commission obtain possession of the land is not a gale day, such purchase annuity, annual sum or other payment shall be apportioned up to that date and shall be deemed to have accrued from day to day.

(4) No stamp duty shall be chargeable or payable on any instrument by which a purchase under this section is effected.

(5) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other powers which the Land Commission may have by law for the acquisition or purchase of land or resumption of holdings.

(6) A certificate under the common seal of the Land Commission certifying that an interest in land has been purchased under this section shall be prima facie evidence of the fact so certified.