#THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ACT, 1899 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 

1. Short title and extent. 
2. “Municipal authority” defined. 
3. Exemption of certain Government buildings from municipal areas to regulate the erection, etc., of 
buildings within municipalities. 
4. Objections  or  suggestions  as  to  erection,  etc.,  of  certain  Government  buildings  within 
municipalities, how to be made and dealt with. 


 
#THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ACT, 1899 

##ACT NO. 4 OF 1899 

[3rd February, 1899.] 

An Act  to  provide  for  the  exemption  from  the  operation  of  municipal  building  laws  of  certain 
buildings  and  lands  which  are  the  property,  or  in  the  occupation,  of  the  Government  and 
situate within the limits of a municipality. 

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the exemption from the operation of municipal building laws 
of certain buildings and lands which are the property, or in the occupation, of the Government and situate 
within the limits of a municipality; 

It is hereby enacted as follows:—- 

1. **Short title and extent.**—(1) This Act may be called the Government Buildings Act, 1899. 

(2)  It extends to the whole of India except the territories which, immediately before the 1st 
November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States. 

2. **“Municipal authority” defined.**—In this Act the expression “municipal authority” includes 
a  municipal  corporation  or  a  body  of  municipal  commissioners  constituted  by,  or  under  the  pro -
visions of, any law or enactment for the time being in force. 

3. **Exemption of certain Government buildings  from  municipal  laws  to  regulate  the 
erection, etc., of buildings within municipalities.**—Nothing contained in any law or enactment 
for  the  time  being  in  force  to  regulate  the  erection,  re-erection,  construction,  alteration  or 
maintenance  of  buildings  within  the  limits  of  any  municipality  shall  apply  to  any  building  used 
or  required  for  the  public  service  or  for  any  public  purpose,  which  is  the  property,  or  in  t he 
occupation, of the Government, or which is to be erected on land which is the property, or in the 
occupation, of the Government : 

Provided that, where the erection, re-erection, construction or material structural alteration of 
any  such  building  as  aforesaid  (not  being  a  building  connected  with defence, or  a  building 
the  plan  or  construction  of  which  ought,  in  the  opinion  of the Government concerned, to be 
treated as confidential or secret) is contemplated, reasonable notice of the proposed work  shall be 
given to the municipal authority before it is commenced. 

4. **Objections or suggestions as to erection, etc., of certain Government buildings  within 
municipalities,  how  to  be  made  and  dealt with.**—(1)  In  the  case  of  any  such  building  as  is 
mentioned  in  the  last  preceding  section  (not  being  a  building connected with defence or a 
building the  plan or construction of  which ought, in the  opinion  of the Government concerned, 
to  be  treated  as  confidential  or  secret),  the  municipal  authority,  or  any  person  authorized  by  it  in 
this  behalf,  may,  with  the  permission  of  the  State  Government  previously  obtained,  but  not 
otherwise, and subject to any restrictions or conditions which may, by general or special order, be 
imposed  by  the  State  Government,  inspect  the  land  and  building  and  all  plans  connected  with  its 
erection,  re-erection,  construction  or  material  structural  alteration,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  may 
submit to the State Government a statement in writing of any objections or suggestions which such 
municipal authority may deem fit to make with reference to such erection, re -erection, construction 
or material structural alteration. 

(2) Every objection or suggestion submitted as aforesaid shall be considered by the State 
Government, which shall, after such investigation (if any) as it shall think advisable, pass orders 
thereon, and the building referred to therein shall be erected, re-erected, constructed or altered, 
as the case may be, in accordance with such orders : 

Provided that, if the State Government overrules or disregards any such objection or suggestion as 
aforesaid, it shall give its reasons for so doing in writing.