16.—(1) A State authority may, in relation to any State land for the time being vested in that State authority, institute any legal proceedings which that State authority could institute if that State authority were a private individual and the owner, lessee or tenant of such State land.

(2) In any legal proceedings instituted by a State authority against any person to recover any periodical sum (being a former crown rent or any rent, rent charge or other sum payable periodically out of State land or any sum payable by way of fees out of State land), a certificate under the official seal of that State authority certifying that a specified amount is due by such person on foot of such periodical sum in respect of a specified period shall be prima facie evidence of the matters so certified.

(3) In any legal proceedings in relation to State land instituted by the State authority in whom such State land is vested against any person, a certificate under the official seal of that State authority certifying any one or more of the following matters, namely—

(a) that such State land is held by that State authority on the tenure set out in the certificate,

(b) that such State land is held from that State authority by that person on the terms set out in the certificate,

(c) that a notice (in the form set out in the certificate) to quit such State land was duly served on the tenant of such State land on a specified date, and that such tenant refused to surrender possession of such State land on the expiration of the said notice,

shall be prima facie evidence of the matters so certified.

(4) Every covenant and agreement in relation to any State land entered into (whether before or after the passing of this Act) by any person (being the grantee, lessee, tenant or licensee of such State land) shall be deemed to have been entered into by that person with the State authority in whom such State land is for the time being vested and may be enforced by that State authority in like manner as if that State authority had been a party thereto.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the right of the Attorney General on behalf of the State or the People to institute and carry on legal proceedings in respect of State land.