4Validation of action taken under sections 11 and 13

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the principal Act or in any other law for the time being in force or in any judgment, decree or order of any court,--

(a) all declarations (whether general or individual) conferring or purporting to confer Bhumidhari rights in favour of any person or class of persons under any of the clauses (a) to (c) of sub-section (1) of section 11, or in favour of any tenant or class of tenants or class of tenants under any of the clauses (a) to (h) of sub-section (1) of section 13, of the principal Act, made before the 5th day of February, 1966, by the Deputy Commissioner or a Revenue Assistant (whether or not such Revenue Assistant was empowered by the Chief Commissioner to discharge all or any of the functions of a Deputy Commissioner), shall be deemed to be, and to have always been, made by such Deputy Commissioner or, as the case may be, Revenue Assistant in accordance with law and the persons or class of persons or the tenants or class of tenants in whose favour any such declaration has been made shall be deemed to have been validly and lawfully declared as Bhumidhars:

Provided that nothing herein contained shall affect the right of any person to call in question any such declaration on the ground only that the entries in the revenue records on the basis of which such declaration has been made are incorrect;

(b) all suits, appeals and other proceedings relating to any such declaration pending before any court or other authority immediately before the 5th day of February, 1966, other than those based on the ground referred to in the proviso to clause (a), shall, on that date, be deemed to have abated.