REVENUE ADMINISTRATION

LAND RECORDS DEPARTMENT

THE LAND REVENUE SYSTEM PREVELENT IN BHANDARA DISTRICT was malguzari and it was based on a complete survey, soil classification and settlement of every field. This malguzari system was subsequently abolished after the passing of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights Act, 1950 and now the rayat is directly responsible for payment of land revenue to Government.

During the Maratha Rule short term settlements of Land Revenue were carried out. A part of certain area was given to an official called mamlatdar who made himself responsible for the collection of revenue. The total assessment was distributed in the villages in consultation with the patils who in turn shifted the burden on to the cultivators according to their individual capacity. The demand of land revenue was increased or decreased according to the circumstances prevailing over the course of the year. In the early British period (i.e., after 1854), summary settlements were made on the basis of rent rolls then existing. These original settlements were commenced during 1859 and completed by 1867. During these settlements, areas were surveyed and mapped. The soil was classed and the records of every field were prepared and the assessment on the basis of rent was fixed. The first revision settlement was then made during the period from 1895 to 1900 and was concluded for a period of 20 years. The Second Revision Settlement was made between the period from 1916 to 1921. The entire district was due for revision settlement in between the period from 1937 to 1939. But the Central Provinces Government postponed the operations due to Second World War in the first instance and then pending the enactment of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The enactment of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 was soon followed by the reorganisation of States. The Government, therefore, postponed the Revision Settlements sine-die.

Survey.— The survey in this district was done with the system then existing in the Central Provinces known as Betul Plan. By using traverse survey methods, the control points were fixed and cadastral maps of individual fields were drawn to the scale of 10 chains to an inch (i.e., 16 inches: 1 mile). The unit of area was the English acre with its sub-division " cent" as one per cent of an acre. The area of each survey number was separately entered in the district, tahsil and village records under an indicative number. Since the adoption of metric system of weights and measures in the State, the unit of area has been changed to hectares. The area of each parcel of lands is now being converted into metric units.

Village, Taluka and District Maps.— After measurement of individual field, village maps to a scale of 16"= 1 mile were prepared showing therein topographical details such as roads, nallas, wells, hills, etc. Two copies of village maps were prepared at the time of each settlement, one called the reference map, viz., map deposited in the settlement, misal of each village in the district record room and the other, the working map, was given to the Patwari for his day to day work.

Classification.— The soil classification has been primarily devised for the equitable distribution of assessment in consideration of fertility of the soil and water advantages. In this district the soils are denoted by common names by which cultivators recognise them. They are as under: —

(1) Kali— Black soil.

(2) Kanhar — A brown black alluvial soil, deep and fertile.

(3) Morand I—Similar as above but lighter in colour and containing a small number of lime stones.

(4) Morand II— Brown in colour, containing considerable number of lime stones and adimixture of sand not very deep as morand I.

(5) Khardi—Very inferior morand and shallow poorest soil of morand type.

(6) Sehar — Usually yellow.

(7) Bardi — A red inferior poorest soil of sehar type.

(8) Retadi — Almost pure sand.

(9) Marhani — A reddish soil formed by alluvium.

In second revision settlement rice and unirrigated lands were further sub-divided as follows: —

(1) Rice land—

(i) Tikre— sloping or highlying.

(ii) Saman — same level.

(iii) Jhilan — low lying.

(2) Other land—

(i)Wahari —badly cut by ravines.

(ii) Pathar — sloping inferior,

(iii) Sadharan — ordinary.

(iv) Bandhia — embanked.

Soil Unit System.— During the last revision survey, large fields were sub-divided according to difference in soils and they were further sub-divided according to differences both in soil and position. With a view to distribute the incidence of rent burden and assessment, the factor of relative value of each class of land included in the soil classification was assigned to each class of soil and position. While assigning this factor, it was aimed to allot a single factor to each soil and position irrespective of crop grown. The acre rates were adopted for individual villages instead of rating all the villages in a group according to single scale of group rate. The second revision settlement was carried out and based on principles according to the soil unit system prescribed in the Central Provinces districts which was made effective from 1916 to 1921.

Settlement and Assessment.—Prior to 1954, the settlement procedure as prescribed under the Settlement Code of Central Provinces was followed. This code was replaced by the Central Provinces Settlement Act, 1927 which was subsequently repealed by the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 is now repealed by the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 made effective from August 15, 1966. The procedure of settlements prescribed under the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 is as under: —

(1) Settlement is defined as a result of operations conducted in a local area in order to determine and revise the Land Revenue Assessment.

(2) The settlement officers appointed by State Government under the provisions of Section 59 of Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1959 after examination of the past revenue history of area assessed and the general effect of existing incidence of assessment on the economic condition of the area arrived at a settlement.

If the settlement of any local area is to be carried out, a forecast of the probable results of the settlement to be prepared under the orders of the State Government is made.

A notice of the intention of the State Government to make settlements together with the proposals based on the forecast is to be published for inviting objections. Such forecast proposals are to be sent to every member of the State Legislative Assembly 21 days before the commencement of the session of the Legislative Assembly. Notification of the proposed revenue survey under Section 64 is to be issued. The local area notified is held under such survey from the date of such notification till another notification for closing the operations is issued.

For the purpose of assessment the Settlement Officer divides the area to be settled into groups and in forming such groups, he takes into consideration the physical features, agricultural and economic conditions and trade facilities in the area under Section 70 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The Settlement Officer prepares the proposals of assessment rates of each group and submits them for approval of the State Government (vide Section 73 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954). The assessments are so fixed, that the increase in the fair assessment of an agricultural holding does not ordinarily exceed 50 per cent of the original assessment. The principles laid down in Section 76 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 are followed while fixing the fair assessment. Improvements made at the cost of the holders are exempted for the purpose of enhancement of assessment as per Section 76 (5) of Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The announcement of the settlements is done by giving a notice under Section 77 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The assessment finally announced under this Section is the land revenue payable annually on such land during the term of settlement unless it is modified in accordance with the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. Once the assessment are approved by the State Government, the Settlement Officer calculates the fair assessment on each holding in accordance with the assessment rates. The term of settlement is to be fixed by the State Government and it is not to be less than 30 years (vide Section 80 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954). The State Government can reduce during the currency of settlement the assessment after considering the general conditions for such period as it may deem fit. The terms of settlement can be reduced to 20 years by the State Government for special reasons.

The following statement gives information regarding demand and collection of land revenue in the district: —

Sources.—(1) District Census Hand Book, Bhandara, 1961.

(2) Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Bombay.

Record of Rights.—In this district the interim Record of Rights was introduced in non-urban areas in the year 1956 as per Section 115 (1) of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954. The full-fledged Record of Rights as prescribed under Section 148 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, is yet to be prepared.

Administrative Set-up.— The Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records, Maharashtra State, Pune, is the head of the department. He is assisted in his work by the Regional Deputy Director of Land Records. The Superintendent of Land Records is the officer next to the Regional Deputy Director of Land Records. The jurisdiction of the Superintendent of Land Records, Nagpur Circle, Nagpur, who is responsible to the Regional Deputy Director of Land Records, Nagpur Circle, Nagpur, extends over all the eight districts of the Vidarbha region. There are eight District Inspectors of Land Records (one for each district) under the Superintendent of Land Records, Nagpur Circle, Nagpur, who are assisted by the Assistant District Inspector of Land Records. The District Inspector of Land Records and the Assistant District Inspector of Land Records are assisted in their work by measurers, Nazid Maintenance Surveyors, Survey Clerks, Revenue Inspectors and Patwaris. Prior to the reorganisation of Land Records Department at the district level in Vidarbha region the Land Records Administration was controlled by the Collector of the district through a separate branch in the Collectorate under the District Superintendent of Land Records and Assistant Superintendent of Land Records. The Superintendent of Land Records, Nagpur Circle, Nagpur had to control the establishment and supervise the work of Revenue Inspectors, Patwaris and Nazul Surveyors. The District Superintendent of Land Records (District Inspector of Land Records) and his assistants were also entrusted with the work relating to survey and land records. The revenue items of work were subsequently transferred to the Collector [Under Government Resolution, Revenue and Forests Department No EST 1061 /14867-C dated June 13, 1964.]. The District Superintendent of Land Records, who is now designated as the District Inspector of Land Records and his subordinate have now been entrusted with the work relating to survey only.

District Inspector of Land Records: The District Inspector of Land Records, Bhandara is the principal officer in the district in charge of the Land Records Department. He is directly subordinate to the Superintendent of Land Records, Nagpur Circle, Nagpur in all technical matters. He is also subordinate to the Collector of the district and the Regional Deputy Director of Land Records, Nagpur and has to carry out all administrative orders of these officers in the matter of survey, settlement and land records. He is assisted by one Assistant District Inspector of Land Records in supervising field work, one District Surveyor and eight Cadastral Surveyors in field [Under Government Resolution, Revenue and Forests Department No EST 1061 /14867-C dated June 13, 1964.] measurement work, one Headquarter Assistant, one Scrutiny Clerk and one Survey Clerk and basta bardar in the district survey office, two Nazul Maintenance Surveyors and two Assistant Nazul Maintenance Surveyors in maintaining Nazul records and other ministerial staff. The staff of ten pot-hissa measures and one Nimtandar carry out the work of measurement of sub-divisions formed due to sales, partition, etc., so as to keep the Record of Rights up-to-date.

The duties of the District Inspector of Land Records are—

(1) to supervise and take a field test of the measurement and classification done by District Surveyor, Cadastral Surveyors, Nazul Maintenance Surveyors and pot-hissa Measurers;

(2) to exercise proper check over the disposal of all measurement and correction work done by the survey staff;

(3) to take test of the work of as many Revenue Circle Inspectors and Talathis as possible to find out as to whether they understand their duties in respect of (i) Record of Rights, (ii) tenancy and crop registers and (iii) boundary marks repairs work of unauthorised occupation of Government land, etc;

(4) to compile the season and crop report of the district;

(5) to inspect Nazul Survey Offices;

(6) to arrange in consultation with the Collector concerned, for the training of the Junior I.A.S. Officer, District Deputy Collectors and Tahsildars in survey and settlement matters;

(7) to advise Revenue Officers in the district in matters relating to maintenance of Survey and Settlement and Record of Rights.

Nazul Survey.— Nazul surveys were carried out at Bhandara, Gondia and Tumsar during the years 1920, 1920 and 1940, respectively. The survey and assessment of diverted lands in the urban areas of Gondia were carried out in the years 1937-38 and 1950-51. The operations of survey and reassessment of lands at Bhandara were undertaken between the period from 1954 to 1959. The term of settlement of Bhandara town is yet to expire. The term of settlement of diverted lands of the nazul towns of Tumsar and Gondia has already expired and action for preparation of standard rates of assessment for revision of assessment is in progress.

Special Schemes.—In addition to the normal duties of the department referred to in the foregoing paragraphs, the Land Records Department is at present entrusted with the execution of the special schemes concerning consolidation of holdings, survey of village gaothans and adoption of metric system of weights and measures in the department.

Consolidation of Holdings.—The work of consolidation of holdings is being carried out in the district from 1956. The consolidation of holdings scheme work has been completed in respect of 55 villages by one Assistant Consolidation Officer under the legal provision laid down in the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code. After the Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, was introduced in this area from April 1, 1959, the staff of two more Assistant Consolidation Officers was appointed to carry out the operations. The staff was further strengthened in 1966. At present 10 Assistant Consolidation Officers are working under the control of 2 Consolidation Officers. The scheme has been executed in 446 villages in the district so far.

Suvery of Village Gaothans.— The Government have sanctioned [Under Government Resolution, Revenue and Forests Department No. CTS. 5760/22408-C dated March 16, 1964.] the scheme of survey of village gaothans. Accordingly the detailed mapping work of twenty one villages has been completed under the supervision of the Special District Inspector of Land Records, (CTS) Nagpur. Out of these 21 villages, the enquiry of titles has been completed in respect of 14 villages.

Metric System.— The scheme of adoption of metric system in final survey records has been sanctioned by Government [Under Government Resolution, Revenue and Forests Depaitment No. Mics. 2663/131464-C dated September 2.3, 1964.] and the Special District Inspector of Land Records (Metric), Nagpur and the ancillary staff has been entrusted with the work of conversion of final survey records into metric system in Nagpur and Bhandara districts. The work of conversion of final survey records was started from July 24, 1969 in Bhandara district and the same has been completed in respect of 165 villages by the end of September, 1969. The complete change over in metric system is expected to be completed within a period of 2 years.

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