17. Extension of laws.—All laws which immediately before the appointed day extend to, or are in
force in, existing Union territories shall, on and from the appointed day, continue to be in force in those
areas in respect of which they were in force immediately before that day.
18. Power to construe laws.—Any court, tribunal or authority required or empowered to enforce any
law extended to the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu by section 17 may,
for the purpose of facilitating its application in relation to the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
and Daman and Diu, construe the law in such manner, without affecting the substance, as may be
necessary or proper in regard to the matter before the court, tribunal or authority.
19. Power to adapt laws.—For the purpose of facilitating the application of any law in relation to the
Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the Central Government may, before the
expiration of two years from the appointed day, by order, make such adaptations and modifications of the
law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and thereupon every
such law shall have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made until altered, repealed or
amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority.
20. Legal proceedings.—Where, immediately before the appointed day, the existing Union territories
is a party to any legal proceedings with respect to any property, rights or liabilities transferred to the
Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu under this Act, the Union territory of
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu shall be deemed to be substituted for the existing Union
territories as a party to those proceedings, or added as a party thereto, as the case may be, and the
proceedings may continue accordingly.
21.Transfer of pending proceeding.—(1) Every proceeding pending immediately before the
appointed day before any court (other than a High Court), tribunal, authority or officer in any area which
on that day falls within the existing Union territories shall, stand transferred to the corresponding court,
tribunal, authority or officer in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
(2) In this section,—
(a) “proceeding” includes any suit, case or appeal; and
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(b) “corresponding court, tribunal, authority or officer”, in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli and Daman and Diu, means—
(i) the court, tribunal, authority or officer in which, or before whom, the proceeding would
have laid if the proceeding had been instituted after the appointed day, or
(ii) in case of doubt, such court, tribunal, authority or officer in that Union territory as may be
determined after the appointed day by the Administrator of the Union territory of Dadra and
Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, or before the appointed day by the existing Union territories,
to be the corresponding court, tribunal, authority or officer.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “Administrator” means the administrator
appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution.
22. Effect of provisions inconsistent with other laws.—The provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force.
23. Power to remove difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of
this Act, the President may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the
difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of three years from the appointed day.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid before each House of Parliament.