24. Special provisions regarding disposal of vacant lands in favour of certain persons.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 23, where any person, being the owner of any vacant land, had leased out or mortgaged with Possession such land or had given possession of such land under a hire-purchase agreement to any other person and as a consequence thereof he has no vacant land in his possession or has vacant land in his possession less in extent than the ceiling limit, and where the land so leased or mortgaged or given Possession of is deemed to have been acquired by the State Government under this Chapter, then, such person shall be entitled to make an application to the State Government in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed within a period of three months from the date of such acquisition for the assignment to him,- (a) in a case where he has no land in his possession, of so much extent of land as is not in excess of the ceiling limit; or (b) in a case where he has land in his possession less in extent than the ceiling limit, of so much extent of land as is required to make up the deficiency: Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to entitle a person for the assignment of land in excess of the extent of the land leased or mortgaged with possession or given possession under a hire-purchase agreement as aforesaid by such person. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the State Government shall, after making such inquiry as it deems, fit assign such land to such person on payment of an amount equal to the amount which has been paid by the State Government for the acquisition of the extent of land to be assigned. | 