NPRC DECREE N0.14 1994

DECREES Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXXV, No. 52 dated 27th October, 1994 [Coat of arms: UNITY FREEDOM JUSTICE] N.P.R.C. Decree No. 14 1994 Sierra Leone The Demolition of Unauthorised Buildings and Other Structures (Indemnity) Decree, 1994 [Margin: Short title.] Being a Decree to abate legal proceedings in Court arising from the demolition of illegally erected buildings on public and privately-owned lands; and to indemnify the Government and public officers from such proceedings. [29th April, 1992.] [Margin: Date of Commencement.] PURSUANT to paragraph 3 of the Proclamation entitled "The Administration of Sierra Leone (National Provisional Ruling Council) Proclamation, 1992", the National Provisional Ruling Council hereby makes and issues the following Decree—

2 No. 14 The Demolition of Unauthorised Buildings and Other Structures (Indemnity) Decree 1994 [Margin: Prohibition of legal actions or suits.]

No action or other legal proceeding whatsoever shall be instituted in any Court of law for or on account of or in respect of the demolition of any building or other structure erected on public or privately owned land within Sierra Leone, during the period extending from the 29th day of April, 1992 to the 30th day of April, 1994 against the Director of Housing and the Environment or against any person acting under his authority or under the authority of the National Provisional Ruling Council or the Secretary of State for Lands, Housing and the Environment, if the demolition of any such building or other structure was carried out by or on the orders of the Director of Housing and the Environment or the Secretary of State for Lands, Housing and the Environment or any other person acting under their authority. [Margin: Abatement of proceedings.]

Where any action or suit has been commenced in any Court or is pending before any Court in respect of any demolition referred to in section 2, such action or suit shall abate and the Court shall *ipso facto* strike out the action or suit. MADE and ISSUED this *20th* day of *October*, 1994. CAPTAIN VALENTINE E. M. STRASSER *Chairman,* *National Provisional Ruling Council.* EXPLANATORY NOTE *(This Note is not part of the Decree but is intended to indicate its general purport.)* Over the years, buildings and other structures have been illegally erected on public and privately owned lands without due regard for the requirements laid down by existing legislation governing the construction of such buildings. Consequently, steps were taken by the Authorities to demolish those buildings and other structures which were erected illegally on public and privately-owned lands to demonstrate that the legal requirements must be complied with. This Decree seeks to prohibit legal proceedings in respect of such demolitions and to indemnify the Government and the public officers connected therewith.