The Kerala Parks, Play-Fields And Open Spaces (Preservations And Regulations) Act, 1969 Act 2 of 1969 Amended by Act 16 of 2000 An Act to provide for the preservation and regulation of parks, play fields and open spaces in the State of Kerala Preamble.—WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the preservation and regulation of parks, play-fields and open spaces in the State of Kerala; 1. Short title, extent and commencement:-- (1) This Act may be called the Kerala Parks, Play-fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation ) Act, 1968: (2) It Extends to the whole of the State of Kerala. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Gazette, appoint. 16[4"It shall apply to every municipality constituted under section 4 of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 (20 of 1994) and every village panchayat constituted under section 4 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994)”;] 16[1]a[(5)....................] For Statement of Objects and Reasons See Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No.38 dated 9-2-1968 Published in Gazette Extra No. 17 dated 20-1-1969 Received the assent of the Government on 18-1-1969. 2. Definitions:--In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) 16b[“Executive Authority” means the Secretary of the Municipality or the village panchayat as the case may be:” (aa) [2]16c[“local authority” means the village panchayat constituted under section 4 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994)”;] or the (b) "Open space" means any land whether enclosed or not, belonging to the Government or any local authority, on which there are no buildings or of which not more than one-twentieth part is covered with buildings and the whole or the remainder of which is used for purposes of recreation, air or light; (c) "park" means a piece of land on which there are no buildings or of which not more than one-twentieth part is covered with buildings, and the whole or the remainder of which is laid out as a garden with trees plants or flower-beds or as a lawn or as a meadow and maintained as a place for the resort of the public for recreation air or light. (d) "play-fields" means a piece of land adapted for the purposes of play, game or sport and used by any school or college or club or other association. 3. Preparation and submission of list of parks, play-fields and open spaces by executive authorities— (1) The executive authority of every local authority shall, no later than six months from the date on which this Act comes into force in the area within the jurisdiction of the local authority prepare and submit for the approval of the local authority a correct and complete list with plans and maps of all the parks, play-fields and open spaces in such area. (2) The list referred to in sub-section (1) shall be in such form and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed. (3) The local authority shall, as soon as may be after the receipt of the list and other documents referred to in sub-section (1), publish the list in the prescribed manner, and such publication shall state at what place and time the maps, plans and documents aforesaid will be available to the public for inspection. 4. Approval and publication of list by local authority and Government:-- (1) Any person interested may submit his objections and suggestions in writing in respect of anything contained in, or relating to the list referred to in Section.3 to the local authority within three months of the date of publication of the list under sub-section (3) of that section; (2) The local authority may, after considering the objections and suggestions, if any, received under sub-section (1) and after making such further inquiry as it thinks fit, approve the list worth or with modification. (3) The approval of the local authority to the list under sub-section (2) shall be published in the prescribed manner and such publication shall contain the list and shall also state at what place and time the particulars relating to the matters mentioned in the list will be available to the public for inspection. (4) Any person who has any objection to the list approved by the local authority may, within such time as may be prescribed, prefer an appeal 16[to the Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 271 .S of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act 1994.] (5) On such appeal the16A[Appellate Tribunal] shall call for the records of the case from the local authority and after giving the parties concerned an opportunity of being heard and if necessary, after making such further inquiry as they may deem fit revise the list with such modification as may be deemed necessary. (6) 16[3]B[Appellate Tribunal shall cause the list as received under sub-section (5) to be published in the Gazette.”;] 5. Variation or revocation of list:-- (1) 16G[The local authority concerned may, at any time, either suo motu or of the instance of any person interested add to, vary or revoke a list published under section 4 after following the procedure in section 5.”;] (2) Before making any such addition, variation or revocation the 16c[local authority] shall publish in the prescribed manner a draft of such addition, variation or revocation together with a notice specifying a date on or after which such draft will be taken into consideration, and shall consider any objection, or suggestion which may be received in respect of such draft from 16D[……….] any person interested before the date so specified. (3) The [4]16E[local authority] shall after considering the objections and suggestion, if any, received within the period referred to in sub-section (2) publish the addition variation or revocation in the prescribed manner, and the addition variation or revocation shall take effect on such publication. (4) 16F[The Government shall have power to add to the list only after consulting the local authority] 6. Prohibition of the use of parks, playfield and open spaces in certain cases:--No park, play-field or open space specified in the list published under Section.4 shall except with the previous sanction of the executive authority be used for any purpose other than the purposes for which it was used prior to the date on which this Act was made applicable to the local authority concer5ned if the use of such park, play-field or open space is temporary for a period of less than one month or with the permission of the local authority concerned if such use is for a period of more than one month at a time: Provided that no such sanction or permission shall be necessary in respect of any park, play-fields or open spaces belonging to the Government. 7. Maintenance of parks, play-fields and open spaces:--The Local authority shall maintain in a clean and proper condition all parks, play fields and open spaces belonging to or vested in it and included in the list published under Section.4. 8. Prohibition of construction of buildings, etc:--No person shall except with the previous sanction of the Government, construct any building or put up any structure likely to affect the utility of or make any encroachment in or over, any park, play-field or open space specified in the list published under Section 4. 9. Obligation of owners of parks and play fields:-- (1) In the case of a park or play-field not vested in a local authority but included in the list published under Section.4 or varied under Section.5 the executive authority may, by notice, require the owner or the person or authority in occupation of such park or play-field-- (a) to maintain such park or play field in a clean and proper condition: or (b) to remove or alter any projection or obstruction in or over any such park or 16F. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. play-field or to execute such repairs to any building in such park or play-field as the executive authority may consider necessary, within a date specified in the notice. (2) If the owner or the person or authority in occupation fails to comply with the notice under sub-section (1) the executive authority shall himself arrange-- (a) to maintain such park or play field in a clean and proper condition or (b) to remove or alter the projection or obstruction; or (c) to execute such repairs as he may consider necessary, and the cost of such maintenance, removal, alteration or repairs shall be recoverable from the owner or the person or authority in occupation, in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) Any dispute as to the amount of the cost recoverable under sub-section (2) shall be decided by the Government and their decision shall be final. (4) The executive authority may, instead of or in addition to taking action as indicated in sub-section (2), proceed to acquire the land under the Kerala Land Acquisition Act, 1961 (21 of 1962) for the purpose of the effective management of the land as a park or play-field. (5) Any owner or any person or authority in occupation of a play-field desiring to convert the play-field to any use other than as a playfield may give notice to the person or authority managing the affairs of any educational institution or other duly constituted public body which uses the play-field or to the local authority within whose jurisdiction the play-field is situated to purchase his or its rights in the play-field and if such person , authority, public body or local authority does not agree to purchase his own its rights, he or it may, after the expiry of a reasonable period which shall be not less than six months after the date of the notice, put it to such use as he or it desires. 10. Submission of annual return:-- (1) The executive authority shall submit to the Government in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed, an annual return in respect of the parks, play-fields and open spaces which are situated within the limits of the local authority concerned and which are specified in the list published under Section.4. (2) The return preferred to in sub-section (1) shall also contain a list of the parks or play fields in respect of which action was taken under sub-section (2) of Section .9 together with particulars as regards the nature of the action taken in respect of them and the steps taken in regard to their proper maintenance. 11. Removal of unauthorised persons:--If any person enters and remains in any park, play-field or open space belonging to or vested in the Government or a local authority in contravention of any rules prescribed in this behalf by the local authority, he may without prejudice to any other proceedings that may be taken against him, be removed from such park, play-field or open space by any police officer or any other person acting on behalf of the local authority or the executive authority. 12. Penalties:--Whoever throws any rubbish into any park, play-field or open space specified in the list published under Section.4 or gets over the railings or fence of any such park, play-field or open space or steals or damages the fruits, plants, grass or any other thing whatsoever therein or commits any nuisance therein shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 13. 16[Role of Government:]--(1) If the Government are satisfied after giving the executive authority an opportunity of explanation, that the executive authority of the local authority has failed to enforce effectively the provisions of this Act or to execute any work which under this Act the executive authority is required to execute, the Government may order the local authority to do all things necessary for enforcing the provisions of this Act effectively or for executing any work which under this Act the executive authority is required to execute, the Government may order the local authority to do all things necessary for enforcing the provisions of this Act effectively or for executing any work which under this Act effective authority is required to execute. (2) For the purposes of this sections the Government shall have the same powers of calling for records, of causing inspection to be made, and of enforcing their orders by appointing persons to enforce them, as they have Under 16A[section 188 and 194 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994) or sections 56 and 61 of the Kerala Municipality Act. 1994 (20 of 1994)] 16B[13A.............] 14. Power to make rules:-- (1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, make rules for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for-- (a) controlling or regulating the admission of persons to, and the conduct of persons in, and in the vicinity of parks, play-fields and open spaces; 16. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16B. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. (b) restricting or prohibiting the admission of animals or any class of animals to any park, play-field or open space; (c) the procedure to be followed under sub-section (5) of S.9. (d) the time within which the annual return under S.10 shall be submitted to the Government. (e) Removing from any park, play field or open space, any person who is therein in contravention of any order or direction of the executive authority or any person authorised under S.11; (f) Any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed under this Act. (4) Every rule made, every notification issued and every list of parks play-fields and open spaces published under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, issued or published before the Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive session, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the rule, notification or list or decides that the rule, notification or list should not be made, issued or published, the rule, notification or list shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule, notification or list. 16. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16a Omitted by Act 16 of 2000. 16c Inserted by Act 16 of 2000. 16. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16A. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16B. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16C. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16D. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16E. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. 16G. Substituted by Act 16 of 2000. |