Hearing of objections.

269F. (1) The competent authority shall fix a day and place for the hearing of the objections made under section 269E against the acquisition under this Chapter of any immovable property, and shall give notice of the same to every person who has made such objection :

Provided that such notice shall also be given to the transferee of such property even if he has not made any such objection.

(2) Every person to whom a notice is given under sub-section (1) shall have the right to be heard at the hearing of the objections.

(3) The competent authority shall have the power to adjourn the hearing of the objections from time to time.

(4) The competent authority may, before disposing of the objections, make such further inquiry as he thinks fit.

(5) The decision of the competent authority in respect of the objections heard shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for the decision with respect to each objection.

(6) If after hearing the objections, if any, and after taking into account all the relevant material on record, the competent authority is satisfied that,—

          (a)  the immovable property to which the proceedings relate is of a fair market value exceeding ³⁵[one hundred] thousand rupees ;

          (b)  the fair market value of such property exceeds the apparent consi-deration therefor by more than fifteen per cent of such apparent consideration ; and

          (c)  the consideration for such transfer as agreed to between the parties has not been truly stated in the instrument of transfer with such object as is referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 269C,

he may, after obtaining the approval of the Commissioner, make an order for the acquisition of the property under this Chapter.

Explanation.—In this sub-section, “Commissioner”, in relation to a competent authority, means such Commissioner as the Board may, by general or special order in writing, specify in this behalf.

(7) If the competent authority is not satisfied as provided in sub-section (6), he shall, by order in writing, declare that the property will not be acquired under this Chapter.

(8) The competent authority shall serve a copy of his order under sub-section (6) or sub-section (7), as the case may be, on the transferor, the transferee and on every person who has made objections against such acquisition under section 269E.

(9) In any proceedings under this Chapter in respect of any immovable property, no objection shall be entertained on the ground that although the apparent consideration for the property is less than the fair market value of the property on the date of the execution of the instrument of transfer ³⁶[or where such property is of the nature referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (e) of section 269A on the date of the transfer], the consideration as agreed to between the parties has been truly stated in the instrument of transfer because such consideration was agreed to having regard to the price that such property would have ordinarily fetched ³⁷[on such transfer in the open market on the date of the conclusion of the agreement to transfer the property], except where such agreement has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908).