(1) No holding shall be partitioned in such manner as to create a fragment.
     (2) A fragment shall not be partitioned unless as a result of such partition its portions get merged in holdings of two standard acres or more or in fragments so as to create holdings of two standard acres or more.
     (3) Whenever, in a suit for partition, the court finds that the partition of a holding will result in the creation of a fragment, the court shall, instead of proceeding to divide the holding, direct the sale of the same and distribute the proceeds thereof among the co-sharers.
     (4) Wherever a holding is put up for sale under sub-section (3), a co-sharer shall have the first option to purchase the holding at the highest bid; if there are two or more co-sharers claiming the first option, that co-sharer who offers the highest consideration shall be preferred.