Report No. 249
43. Punjab District Boards Act, Act 20 of 1883
Category: Laws Relating to Administration and Development of Local Areas
Recommendation: The Central Government should write to the State of Punjab seeking clarification on whether this Act is still in use.
The Act made better provisions for the local self-government in the districts of Punjab. The Act envisaged District Boards for proper maintenance of the districts (construction of roads, management of property, registration of births and deaths, etc.). The Act also imposed a 'local rate' payable on all land in the district by the landholders. The revenue from this collection would go towards the maintenance of the district.
Evidence of the fact that this might still be relevant is that the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967 defines 'rates and cesses' to include the local rate payable under the Punjab District Board Act, 1883. However, the Act seems to have otherwise fallen into disuse. The Central Government should write to the Government of Punjab seeking clarification on whether this Act is still in use. The Central Government should also remove this law from its lists of central Acts in force.
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