18. Recovery of rent and interest in arrears

Where any sum is due from the tenant cultivator of any extent of paddy land to his landlord as rent in arrears or interest on such rent or both, the landlord may apply in writing to the Commissioner-General who shall upon such application cause the Agrarian Tribunal to hold an inquiry in respect of such application. If the Agrarian Tribunal decides that any amount is due to be paid to the landlord by the tenant cultivator and informs the Commissioner-General of the same, then the Commissioner-General shall make an order for the payment of such amount in money or in paddy or both in money and in paddy in the manner prescribed in such order and within the period specified therein.

If such tenant cultivator fails to pay such sum within the period specified by the order under subsection (1) such sum may be recovered upon application being made by the landlord to the Magistrate's Court having jurisdiction over the place where the paddy land in respect of which the rent is due is situated in like manner as a fine imposed by such Court notwithstanding that such sum may exceed the amount of the fine which that Court may in the exercise of its ordinary jurisdiction impose, and any sum so recovered shall be paid by such Court to the applicant landlord.

For the purposes of subsection (2) an order by the