Acquisition of land

(1) Whenever the Minister considers that any land should be acquired for a public purpose, he may cause a declaration to that effect to be made in the manner provided by this section and the declaration shall be prima facie evidence that the land to which it relates is required for a public purpose. land. (2) Every declaration shall be published in two ordinary issues of the Gazette, there being an interval of not less than six weeks between each publication, and copies thereof shall be posted on one of the buildings, if any, on the land or exhibited at suitable places in the locality in which the land is situate. (3) The declaration shall specify the following particulars to the land which is to be acquired, (a) the district in which the land is situate; (b) a description of the land, giving the approximate area and such other particulars as are necessary to identify the land; (c) in cases where a plan has been prepared, the place where, and the time when, a plan of the land can be inspected; (d) the public purpose for which the land is required. (4) Upon the second publication of the declaration in the Gazette as required by subsection (2) of this section, the land shall vest absolutely in the State and the authorised officer, and his agents, assistants and workmen may enter and take possession of the land accordingly. 7 (5) Any person claiming an interest in or right over the land shall have a right of access to the courts for the purpose of determining whether the acquisition was duly carried out for a public purpose in accordance with this Act. (6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the acquisition of lands for public purposes by private treaty. land.