(1) Every owner or person having the control of any place used at the commencement of this Act, as a public place for burying, burning or otherwise disposing of the dead in a panchayat area, shall, if such place be not already registered under any law applicable thereto, apply to the Grama Panchayat to have such place registered under this Act.

(2) If it appears to such Grama Panchayat that there is no owner or person having control of such place, the Grama Panchayat shall assume such control, and register such place or may close it.