Section 16. Collector's powers to let to tenants.

If the collector is satisfied that the landlord of an estate or village, without good reason, keeps large areas of his niji jot and other culturable land uncultivated, or that an emergency has arisen for bringing under cultivation land which has not been previously cultivated or, if previously cultivated, has remained uncultivated for more than three years, he may, (i) with the previous sanction of the Chief Commissioner, take possession of such land, and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, allot it for cultivation on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, and the person to whom the land is so allotted shall, unless he is the landlord at such land, be deemed to have been admitted as tenant within the meaning of clause (b) of section 22: Provided that, while giving his sanction under clause (i), the Chief Commissioner may exempt from its operation any land which is used as pasture land or threshing-floor, or for some other purpose for the benefit of the public.