REVENUE ADMINISTRATION

LAND RECORDS DEPARTMENT

Introduction.

The land revenue system prevalent in Sangli district is rayatwari which is based on the complete survey, soil classification and settlement of assessment of every field.

The original survey settlements were introduced in the district between 1857 and 1867, and the first revision settlement between 1887 and 1895. The second revision settlements in force were introduced between 1918 and 1926, in respect of Walva, Shirala, Khanapur, Tasgaon and Jath talukas. In the remaining parts of the district, the first revision settlements are in force. Thus the whole district is overdue for revision settlement.

The whole of the district has been surveyed, classified and settled, except 14 villages (13 Inam villages and one Jagir village from merged State areas). These 14 villages have been surveyed but not settled. The classification operations of these villages have been completed under Post-War Reconstruction Schemes (No. 77-AO). However, the rates of assessment are not as yet declared.

Survey.

The survey was done by chain and cross-staff in all talukas excepting a few villages, the survey of which has been done by M.T. Method. The unit of area is English acre with its sub-divi sion, the gunthas (121 Sq. Yards, i.e., square formed by one Chain or 11 Yards), 40 gunthas making one acre. The area of each survey number is separately entered in the Land Records under an indicative number and that of a sub-division too is so entered under an indicative number subordinate to that of survey number of which it forms a part.

Accurate village maps have been prepared (generally on a scale of 1" = 20 chains) for all surveyed villages showing the survey number and their boundary marks and other topographical details such as roads, nallas, forests, etc. From these village maps, taluka and district maps were prepared on a scale of 1"= 2 miles.

Classification.

The main classes of lands recognised were dry-crop, garden and rice lands. Each field was classified with reference to the texture of the soil, its depth and deteriorating factors and extra advantages, if any. This district being trap country, the factor of "General Position" has also been taken into consideration. In case of dry-crop lands, e.g., gradual additions are made to the soil classification of lands possessing advantages of drainage on account of situation of the lands. In the case of rice and garden lands in addition to the soil factors, the water factor was also classified in consideration of the duration of the water-supply and kind of crop grown. The classification value was expressed in terms of annas, 16 annas representing the standard. The soil classification as originally confirmed or made during the revision survey is final and no general reclassification of soil is made again at further revision settlement (Section 106 of Land Revenue Code). The holder is, however, entitled to reclassification and reduction of assessment of his lands on account of physical deterioration of the soil. All improvements made are exempt from taxation for a period of 30 years immediately preceding the year in which the settlement is introduced. Thereafter they are liable to taxation.

Settlement and Assessment.

Prior to 1939, the settlement procedure was prescribed by an administrative order of Government under the Land Revenue Code. Under the Land Revenue Code Amendment Act of 1939 (Bombay XX of 1939), the procedure has been brought on the statute book. The various provisions governing the settlement procedure are contained in chapter VIII-A of the Land Revenue Code and Chapter III-A of the Land Revenue Rules. The prescribed procedure is, in brief, as under: —

" Settlement " is defined as the result of operations conducted in a taluka or a part of taluka in order to determine the land revenue assessment [Sec. 117-C (1)].

The Settlement Officer (appointed by the State Government under section 18 of Land Revenue Code) examines fully the past revenue history of the area with a view to assessing the general effect of the existing incidence of assessment on the economic condition of the area and with reference to the various statistical data, and by careful enquiry in villages, he collects information in respect of the following matters in the manner prescribed in the Land Revenue Rule 19-A (2):

1. physical configuration;

2. climate and rainfall;

3. markets;

4. communications;

5. standard of husbandry;

6. population and supply of labour;

7. agricultural resources;

8. variations in the area of occupied and cultivated lands during the last 30 years;

9. wages;

10. prices;

11. yield of the principal crops;

12. ordinary expenses of cultivating such crops (including the wages of the cultivators for his labours in cultivating the land);

13. rental value of the land used for the purpose of agriculture;

14. sale of lands used for agriculture.

On making a settlement, he divides the area to be settled into groups which are so formed as to be homogeneous in respect of the factors enumerated above and bear the same standard rates [Land Revenue Code, section 117-G (1) and (2)J. He then fixes the standard rates for each class of lands (viz., dry-crop, rice, and garden). " Standard rate " is the normal assessment per acre on the land of respective class of 16 annas classification value [ section 117-G (5) and (6) ].

These rates are so fixed that the aggregate assessment on the occupied lands in any group shall not exceed 35 per cent of the average of the rental values of such lands for a period of 5 years immediately preceding the year in which the settlement is directed [ Land Revenue Code, section 117-C (I)]. The enhancement of the assessment is limited to 25 per cent of the aggregate existing assessment in respect of a taluka or a group and 50 per cent in respect of a village or an individual holding (section 117-F).

Improvements made at the cost of the holders are exempted from the enhancement of the assessment for a period of 30 years, immediately preceding the date on which the settlement expires (section 117-H).

The Settlement Officer formulates his proposals of settlement on the above basis in the form of a comprehensive report which contains—

(i) the various statistical data collected by him in the prescribed forms,

(ii) the reasons for his proposals, and

(iii) a statement showing the effect of his proposals as compared to that of previous settlement in force (Land Revenue Rule 19-B (1).

He submits the report to the Collector (section 117-1). The settlement report is published in the regional language in each village in the prescribed manner, together with a notice stating the existing standard rates for each class of land and the extent of increase or decrease proposed by the Settlement Officer. The period of three months from the date of notice is allowed for any objections to the settlement proposals (section 117-J).

Provision is made for referring settlement proposals to the Revenue Tribunal by the State Government at the instance of aggrieved persons (who have to deposit the prescribed amount of cost) within two months from the date of the notice (section 117-KK).

After taking into account the objections, the Collector forwards the Settlement Officer's report to the State Government through the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records with his remarks (section 117-K).

The settlement report together with the objections and recommendations of the State Revenue Tribunal is placed on the table of each chamber of the Legislature and the proposals can be discussed in the Legislature (section 117-C).

Thereupon, the State Government passes final orders on the settlement report (section 117-L), and after a notice of the settlement has been given in the prescribed manner, the settlement is deemed to have been introduced (section 117-O).

The assessment to be imposed on each holding in the case of an original settlement is determined by the application of the standard rates to the classification value of the lands through the medium of the Jantris (table of calculation) prepared by the Superintendent of Survey and the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records, and in the case of a Revision Settlement, it is worked out by increasing or decreasing the old assessment in the same proportion as there is increase or decrease in the new standard rate over the old ones (Land Revenue Rules 19-H).

A settlement ordinarily remains in force for 30 years (section 117-E).

If the settlement is declared with reference to price a surcharge can be levied or rebate granted during the currency of the settlement, according to the variation in prices (Land Revenue Code 117-M and Land Revenue Rules 19-K).

Additional water advantages accrued at the cost of Government can be assessed during the currency of the settlement (section 117-Q).

Record-of Rights.

The Record-of-Rights Law (contained in Chapter X of the Land

Revenue Code) was enacted in 1913. The Record-of-Rights has been introduced in all the villages of this district (according to section 135-B (1) of the Land Revenue Code) The Record-of-Rights contains the following particulars: —

(a) the names of all persons who are holders, occupants, owners or mortgagees of the land or assignees of the rents or revenue thereof;

(b) the nature and extent of the respective interests of such persons and the conditions or liabilities attached thereto:

(c) the rent or revenue (if any) payable by or to any of such persons;

(d) the names of tenants and mode of cultivation; and

(e) such other particulars as the State Government may prescribe under the rules made in this behalf.

The State Government has now applied the law to all tenancies also under section 135-B (2). Any acquisition of a right in land is to be reported to the village officers by the person acquiring it, unless it is registered (Land Revenue Code—section 135-C). Failure to carry out this obligation is liable to fine by way of late fees.

Functions.

The Land Records department was created in 1884 when the revision survey 'and settlement operations were nearing completion and old " Survey Settlement Department " was brought to a close. The department is an adjunct to the Revenue department. Its functions are: —

(i) to maintain all survey, classification and settlement records up-to-date by keeping very careful notes of all changes and for this purpose to carry out operations preliminary to incorporation of the changes in the survey records;

(ii) to collect and provide statistics necessary for the sound administration of all matters concerned with the land;

(iii) to help to reduce, simplify and cheapen litigations in revenue and civil courts by providing reliable survey and other records:

(iv) to supervise the preparation and maintenance of Record-of-Rights and of the periodical inspection of the boundary marks;

(v) to conduct periodical revision settlement operations;

(vi) to organise and carry out village site and city surveys on an extensive scale and arrange for their proper maintenance;

(vii) to undertake special surveys for private individuals or for public bodies, sttrveys in connection with railways, municipal and Zilla Parishad projects, town planning schemes and survey for defence and other Government departments;

(viii) to maintain up-to-date all village maps, and to reprint them and arrange for their distribution to various departments for administrative purposes and for sale to the public; and

(ix) to train the Revenue Officers in survey and settlement matters.

District Inspector of Land Records.

The District Inspector of Land Records, Sangli, is the principal officer in charge of the Land Records department in the district. He is a Class II Gazetted Officer (of Mamlatdar's rank) appointed by the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records, and is directly subordinate to the Superintendent of Land Records, Poona Circle, Poona, in all technical matters. He is also sub-ordinate to the Collector of Sangli and has to carry out all administrative orders of the Collector in the matter of survey and records.

The District Inspector of Land Records is assisted by one District Surveyor and eight Cadestral Surveyors and four Maintenance Surveyors with their headquarters at Sangli, Miraj, Tasgaon, Islampur and Ashta and other ministerial staff. The pot hissa survey operations are being carried out by the Surveyor Mamlat-dar (P.H.S.), Poona, since 1957.

Duties and functions.

Being both a Revenue and a Survey Officer the duties of the District Inspector of Land Records are: —

(a) to supervise and take field tests of measurement and classification work done by the District, Cadestral and Maintenance Surveyors;

(b) to exercise check over the prompt and proper disposal of all measurement cases and other works done by the survey staff and the District Survey Office establishment by scrutinizing their diaries and monthly statements (Mahewars);

(c) to take a test of the work of as many circle inspectors and village officers as possible with a view to ensure that they understand their duties in respect of (i) the Record-of-Rights, (ii) the tenancy and crop registers and (iii) the boundary marks repairs work, etc., during his village inspection. The District Inspector sees that Government waste lands are not being unauthorizedly used (his test is meant to be qualitative and not merely quantitative):

(d) to be responsible for the maintenance of the theodolite stones in the villages surveyed on minor triangulation method and to arrange for their regular inspection and replacement where necessary;

(e) to compile the huzur statistics (Agricultural Return No. II and III) with the clerical aid placed at his disposal by the Collector;

(f) to maintain the accounts and watch the recovery of the city survey and other dues;

(g) to inspect the city survey offices every year and send the inspection memoranda (in triplicate) to the Superintendent of Land Records, who forwards one copy to the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records, and one to the City Survey Officer through the Collector with his own remarks thereon;

(h) to arrange in consultation with the Collector concerned for training of the Junior Indian Administrative Service Officers, the District Deputy Collectors, the Mamlatdars and other staff in survey and settlement matters; and

(i) to advise the Revenue Officers in the district in all technical matters concerned, with the maintenance of the survey records and the Record-of-Rights, and to refer all cases of doubt to the Superintendent of Land Records.

District and Cadestral Surveyors.

The staff of the District and Cadestral Surveyors deals with the routine measurement and classification work, whether done for Government (i.e., in land acquisition cases, etc.), or on private applications, civil court decrees, etc. In the case of private work, the prescribed fees are recovered from the parties in advance. The District Surveyor deals with such measurement cases as cannot be entrusted to the Cadestral Surveyor on account of che difficulties, their size, importance and urgency. The staff does the work of effecting necessary changes in the survey records by preparing kami jasti patraks during the monsoon.

District Survey Office and the Headquarter Assistant.

The District Survey Office is in charge of the Headquarter Assistant who acts under the orders of the District Inspector of Land Records. The Headquarter Assistant and his staff are responsible for keeping the survey records up-to-date and in proper place. He deals with all correspondence connected with records (under the signature of the District Inspector of Land Records). In urgent circumstances, the Headquarter Assistant disposes of the references under his own signature in the absence of the District Inspector of Land Records, informing the latter of the action taken bv him. He recovers and accounts for the fees received for private measurement work, according to the prescribed procedure. He also issues certified extracts from the survey records, and supplies printed maps to the applicants on payment of prescribed charges. The District Survey Office also issues the measurement case to the surveyors for measurement and keeps a watch over their prompt and proper disposal, scrutinises the surveyors' work in the survey office and takes action to get all changes effected in the survey records. In this connection necessary kami jasti patraks (with their abstracts) signed by the District Inspector of Land Records and countersigned by the Superintendent of Land Records, Poona and Hissa Form No. XII (after preparing akarphed patraks) signed by District Inspector of Land Records, are sent to the revenue officers for correction of the village and taluka accounts, records and maps.

Maintenance Surveyors.

The staff of the Maintenance Surveyors is responsible for the maintenance of the city surveys (these are introduced under section 131 of Land Revenue Code) and the records including the Record-of-Rights and the maps connected therewith and assist the revenue administration of the city survey area. They, therefore, work under the immediate control of the revenue officers in charge of the city survey, but the technical and administrative control of the staff lies with the District Inspector of Land Records and the Superintendent of Land Records. Such surveys have been introduced in the following important cities and towns in Sangli district in the years noted against them:—

*The post of Maintenance Surveyor, Ashta, is separated as per G. R., R. D. No. EST 3463/10043-C, dated 4th March 1963.

The cost of the maintenance of the city surveys is usually borne by the Government in respect of all city surveys except that the maintenance of the one post of Additional Maintenance Surveyor is borne by the Ganapati Sansthan, Sangli. No village site survey has been undertaken in the district.

Pot Hissa Surveyors.

The scheme of measurement of pot hissas was sanctioned under G.R., R.D., No. S.V.C./755-C, dated 28-12-1956, for a period of two years. The execution of the scheme was entrusted to the Pot Hissa Survey Mamlatdar, Poona. The Survey Mamlatdar is a Gazetted Officer in the cadre of the District Inspector of Land Records appointed by the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records. He works under the control of the Special Superintendent of Land Records, Pot Hissa Survey, Poona. One Nimtandar and 10 Surveyors are at present working in Sangli district.

Circle Inspectors.

The Circle Inspectors are primarily expected to assist the revenue officers in the up-to-date maintenance or the village records and the land records kept at the villages, and assist the revenue administration and are, therefore, under the control of the Collector. They supervise the work of the village officers and their technical work of maintenance of Land Records at the village is supervised by the District Inspector of Land Records.

Post-war Reconstruction Schemes.

The Land Records department is at present entrusted with the execution of the Post-War Reconstruction Scheme No. 74, i.e., Consolidation of Holdings as per the Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, as amended in the year 1959.

There are four Assistant Consolidation Officers working in this district with a Consolidation Officer above them, with headquarters at Sangli. The Assistant Consolidation Officers are in the cadre of the District Inspector of Land Records and the Consolidation Officer in the cadre of Prant Officer.

The Assistant Consolidation Officer is assisted by a Nimtandar, a Circle Inspector and six Consolidation Surveyors and other staff in making up-to-date measurement of sub-divisions, the Record-of-Rights and to prepare a scheme of consolidation. The Consolidation Circle Inspector assists the Assistant Consolidation Officer in the execution of the scheme of consolidation of holdings after confirmation of the scheme by the Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records or Government as the case may be. They have started the work in Miraj, Tasgaon, Khanapur and Walwa talukas of the district.

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