Important Land Laws in Rajasthan: Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956

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<–2/”>a >Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956

The assessment and collection of land revenue is governed under the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 and the rules made thereunder. Land revenue mainly comprises of rent on land, lease rent, premium, conversion charges payable on use of agricultural land for other purpose, receipts from sales of Government land etc. The administrative power of the Department is vested in the Revenue Department in the Government. The overall control relating to revenue matters vests with the Board of Revenue.

Organisational set up

The powers of administrative department are vested in the Revenue Department in the Government. The overall control relating to revenue related judicial matters along with supervision and monitoring over revenue officers vests with the Board of Revenue (BOR). The BOR is assisted by 33 Collectors at district level, 191 Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) at sub-division level and 244 Tehsildars at tehsil level in all matters relating to assessment and collection of land revenue. BOR is also the State level implementing authority for computerisation of land records in Rajasthan.

A Board of Revenue is established for Rajasthan, The Board of Revenue consists of a Chairman, and not less than three and not more than fifteen other members.The State Government prescribe the qualifications of persons who shall be eligible for appointment as Chairman and member of the Board, the method of their selection for appointment and the condition of their service.All members of the Board of Revenue hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.The headquarters of the Board of Revenue is at Ajmer.The Board of Revenue is the highest revenue court of appeal, revision and reference in Rajasthan.

The Government of India (GOI) introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme ―Computerisation of Land Records‖ (CLR) for effective land administration, planning and empowering the people with the Right To Information. The CLR project was initially started in Rajasthan in 1994-95 in Jaipur and Barmer districts, through a client server model application (Apna Khata) developed by NIC, Jaipur. Later on, the CLR

was extended to all the 33 districts covering 244 tehsils and six additional tehsils of the State in 1996-97. All the tehsils were fully operationalised by end of March 2003 and the additional tehsils by end of June 2005.

Powers and duties of Courts and Officers –

 A Commissioner or a Collector or a Sub-Divisional Officer or a Tehsildar shall respectively within his division or district or sub-division or tehsil, exercise all the powers and discharge all the duties conferred and imposed on him by or under Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 or the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 (Rajasthan Act 3 of 1955) or any other law for the time being in force.

 The Settlement Commissioner shall be incharge of all matters related to settlement throughout the State and shall in respect thereof exercise such powers and discharge such duties as are conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.

 The Director of Land Records is the incharge of all matters relating to survey and the preparation, revision and maintenance of land records throughtout the State and in respect thereof exercise powers and discharge such duties as are conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.

 A Land Records Officer (Colector or an officer appointed under Chapter VII ), within the area for which he is appointed exercise such powers and perform such duties as are conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.

 A Settlement Officer or an officer appointed under Chapter VIII shall, within the area for which he is appointed, exercise such powers and perform such duties as are conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.,

The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is a law that governs land revenue in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The Act was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to land revenue in the state. The Act provides for the Classification of land, tenures, rights and liabilities of occupants, mutation, assessment, collection, arrears, leases, transfers, exchanges, partitions, sales, foreclosures, exemptions, penalties, miscellaneous matters and repeal and saving.

Chapter I of the Act deals with preliminary matters. It defines certain terms used in the Act and provides for the application of the Act.

Chapter II deals with the classification of land. Land is classified into three categories: arable land, non-arable land and waste land.

Chapter III deals with tenures. A tenure is a right to hold land. The Act recognizes three types of tenures: occupancy rights, non-occupancy rights and special rights.

Chapter IV deals with the rights and liabilities of occupants. An occupant is a person who has a right to hold land under a tenure. The Act provides for the rights and liabilities of occupants.

Chapter V deals with mutation. Mutation is the process of recording changes in the ownership of land. The Act provides for the procedure for mutation.

Chapter VI deals with assessment. Assessment is the process of determining the amount of land revenue payable on land. The Act provides for the procedure for assessment.

Chapter VII deals with collection. Collection is the process of collecting land revenue. The Act provides for the procedure for collection.

Chapter VIII deals with arrears. Arrears are unpaid land revenue. The Act provides for the procedure for recovery of arrears.

Chapter IX deals with leases. A lease is a contract for the use of land for a specified period of time. The Act provides for the procedure for granting leases.

Chapter X deals with transfers. A transfer is the act of transferring ownership of land. The Act provides for the procedure for transferring land.

Chapter XI deals with exchanges. An exchange is the act of exchanging land for other land. The Act provides for the procedure for exchanging land.

Chapter XII deals with partitions. A partition is the act of dividing land among co-owners. The Act provides for the procedure for partitioning land.

Chapter XIII deals with sales. A sale is the act of selling land. The Act provides for the procedure for selling land.

Chapter XIV deals with foreclosures. A foreclosure is the act of taking possession of land by a creditor after the debtor has defaulted on a loan. The Act provides for the procedure for foreclosure.

Chapter XV deals with exemptions. The Act provides for exemptions from land revenue.

Chapter XVI deals with penalties. The Act provides for penalties for contravention of the Act.

Chapter XVII deals with miscellaneous matters. The Act provides for certain miscellaneous matters, such as the power of the government to make rules, the power of the government to delegate powers, the power of the government to remove difficulties, and the power of the government to make retrospective amendments.

Chapter XVIII deals with repeal and saving. The Act repeals certain laws and saves certain other laws.

The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is a comprehensive law that governs land revenue in the state of Rajasthan. The Act provides for the classification of land, tenures, rights and liabilities of occupants, mutation, assessment, collection, arrears, leases, transfers, exchanges, partitions, sales, foreclosures, exemptions, penalties, miscellaneous matters and repeal and saving.

The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is a law that governs land revenue in the state of Rajasthan. It was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to land revenue in the state. The Act provides for the assessment, collection, and management of land revenue. It also provides for the settlement of land revenue and for the grant of remissions and exemptions.

The Act is divided into 12 parts. Part I deals with preliminary matters. Part II deals with the assessment of land revenue. Part III deals with the collection of land revenue. Part IV deals with the management of land revenue. Part V deals with the settlement of land revenue. Part VI deals with the grant of remissions and exemptions. Part VII deals with the transfer of land. Part VIII deals with the rights of tenants. Part IX deals with the rights of landlords. Part X deals with the rights of Government. Part XI deals with miscellaneous matters. Part XII deals with the transitional provisions.

The Act is administered by the Revenue Department of the Government of Rajasthan. The Revenue Department is headed by the Revenue Minister. The Revenue Minister is assisted by the Principal Secretary (Revenue). The Principal Secretary (Revenue) is assisted by the Director of Land Records and Settlement. The Director of Land Records and Settlement is assisted by the Deputy Directors of Land Records and Settlement. The Deputy Directors of Land Records and Settlement are assisted by the Tehsildars. The Tehsildars are assisted by the Patwaris.

The Act is a complex law and it is not possible to provide a comprehensive answer to all of the questions that may be asked about it. However, the following are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Act:

  1. What is the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956?
    The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is a law that governs land revenue in the state of Rajasthan. It was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to land revenue in the state.

  2. What does the Act provide for?
    The Act provides for the assessment, collection, and management of land revenue. It also provides for the settlement of land revenue and for the grant of remissions and exemptions.

  3. Who administers the Act?
    The Act is administered by the Revenue Department of the Government of Rajasthan.

  4. Who are the key officers in the Revenue Department?
    The key officers in the Revenue Department are the Revenue Minister, the Principal Secretary (Revenue), the Director of Land Records and Settlement, the Deputy Directors of Land Records and Settlement, and the Tehsildars.

  5. What is the role of the Revenue Minister?
    The Revenue Minister is the political head of the Revenue Department. He is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the Department.

  6. What is the role of the Principal Secretary (Revenue)?
    The Principal Secretary (Revenue) is the administrative head of the Revenue Department. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Department.

  7. What is the role of the Director of Land Records and Settlement?
    The Director of Land Records and Settlement is responsible for the administration of the land records and settlement system in the state.

  8. What is the role of the Deputy Directors of Land Records and Settlement?
    The Deputy Directors of Land Records and Settlement are responsible for the administration of the land records and settlement system in the districts.

  9. What is the role of the Tehsildars?
    The Tehsildars are responsible for the administration of the land revenue system in the tehsils.

  10. What is the procedure for assessing land revenue?
    The procedure for assessing land revenue is laid down in the Act. The assessment is made by the Tehsildar on the basis of the land records.

  11. What is the procedure for collecting land revenue?
    The procedure for collecting land revenue is laid down in the Act. The revenue is collected by the Tehsildar through the Patwaris.

  12. What is the procedure for managing land revenue?
    The procedure for managing land revenue is laid down in the Act. The revenue is managed by the Tehsildar through the Patwaris.

  13. What is the procedure for settling land revenue?
    The procedure for settling land revenue is laid down in the Act. The settlement is made by the Collector on the basis of the land records.

  14. What is the procedure for granting remissions and exemptions?
    The procedure for granting remissions and exemptions is laid down in the Act. The remissions and exemptions are granted by the Collector on the basis of the land records.

  15. What is the procedure for transferring land?
    The procedure for transferring land is laid down in the Act. The transfer is made by the Tehsildar on the basis of the land records.

  16. What are the rights of tenants?

  1. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is a law that governs land revenue in the state of Rajasthan.
  2. The Act was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to land revenue in the state.
  3. The Act provides for the assessment and collection of land revenue, the management of land records, and the settlement of disputes relating to land.
  4. The Act also provides for the grant of land revenue concessions and remissions.

  5. The Act is administered by the Revenue Department of the Government of Rajasthan.

  6. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is applicable to all areas in the state of Rajasthan, except for the areas that are governed by special laws.

  7. The Act does not apply to the areas that are governed by the following laws:
    • The Indian Forest Act, 1927
    • The Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955
    • The Rajasthan Land reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952
    • The Rajasthan Land Revenue (Rehabilitation of Refugees) Act, 1954
    • The Rajasthan Land Revenue (Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons) Act, 1954

  8. The Act applies to all lands in the state of Rajasthan, except for the following lands:

    • Lands that are owned by the Central Government
    • Lands that are owned by the State Government
    • Lands that are owned by local authorities
    • Lands that are owned by religious or charitable institutions
    • Lands that are owned by private individuals and are not used for agricultural purposes

  9. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 is enforced by the Revenue Department of the Government of Rajasthan.

  10. The Revenue Department is responsible for the assessment and collection of land revenue, the management of land records, and the settlement of disputes relating to land.

  11. The Revenue Department is also responsible for the grant of land revenue concessions and remissions.

  12. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following types of land revenue:

    • Khasra land revenue
    • Patta land revenue
    • Chauki land revenue
    • Bhoodan land revenue
    • Inam land revenue
  13. Khasra land revenue is payable on all lands that are used for agricultural purposes.
  14. Patta land revenue is payable on all lands that are held under pattas.
  15. Chauki land revenue is payable on all lands that are used for grazing purposes.
  16. Bhoodan land revenue is payable on all lands that are donated to the Government under the Bhoodan Movement.

  17. Inam land revenue is payable on all lands that are held under inams.

  18. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following types of land revenue assessments:

    • Annual assessment
    • Half-yearly assessment
    • Quarterly assessment
  19. The annual assessment is the most common type of land revenue assessment.
  20. The half-yearly assessment is used for lands that are irrigated by canals or wells.

  21. The quarterly assessment is used for lands that are irrigated by tanks or other sources of water.

  22. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following types of land revenue collection:

    • Cash collection
    • Kind collection
    • Cheque collection
  23. The cash collection is the most common type of land revenue collection.
  24. The kind collection is used for lands that are not easily accessible by roads.

  25. The cheque collection is used for lands that are owned by individuals who live outside of the state of Rajasthan.

  26. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following types of land revenue management:

    • Record of rights management
    • Mutation management
    • Arrears management
  27. The record of rights management is the process of maintaining a record of all lands in the state of Rajasthan and the rights of the owners of those lands.
  28. The mutation management is the process of updating the record of rights when there is a change in the ownership of land.

  29. The arrears management is the process of collecting land revenue that is due but has not been paid.

  30. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following types of land revenue disputes:

    • Original disputes
    • Revisional disputes
    • Appellate disputes
  31. Original disputes are disputes that are filed in the first instance.
  32. Revisional disputes are disputes that are filed against the orders of a lower court.

  33. Appellate disputes are disputes that are filed against the orders of a higher court.

  34. The Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 provides for the following

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