Section 18
⎯(1) Where the Director, subject to any direction from the
Minister, is satisfied that a native has occupied and used any area of
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unalienated State land in accordance with rights acquired by customary tenure amounting to ownership of the land for residential or agricultural purposes, he may, subject to section 18A, issue to the native a grant in perpetuity of that area of land free of premium rent and other charges.
[Am. Ord. No. 20/63; Ord. No. 2/74; Cap. A50; Cap. A78.]
(2)
A grant in perpetuity under this section shall be made for residential or agricultural purposes, as the case may be, subject to such conditions, obligations and restrictions, as the Director on the direction of the Minister, may impose.
[Sub. Ord. No. 2/74.]
(3)
Where land granted under this section is transferred or subleased to a person other than a person who, if the proprietor had died intestate immediately prior to the date of the transfer or sublease, would have inherited the land, or where the use of such land is changed from residential or agricultural purposes to any other purpose, the appropriate premium, if any, rent and other charges under this Code shall be payable as if the land had been first alienated on the date of transfer or sublease or change of use, as the case may be.
[Am. Ord. No. 2/74.]
(4)
All land which immediately prior to the commencement of the Land Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 [Ord. No. 20/63], was held under a lease issued under section 41, or under any similar provision of any Ordinance repealed by the Principal Ordinance or of any Order of the Rajah, shall, on the commencement of that
Ordinance, be deemed to be held under a grant issued under this section :
[Am. Ord. No. 2/74.]
Provided that this subsection shall not apply to any land held or deemed to be held under a grant issued under this section the use of which prior to the commencement of the Land Code (Amendment)
Ordinance, 1974 [Ord. No. 2/74], has been changed from agricultural purposes to any other purpose pursuant to the former section 18(3) as
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enacted by the Land Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 [Ord. No.
20/63].
[Ins. Ord. No. 2/74.]