11/5/24, 10:38 PM The Gazetteers Department - Sangli

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REVENUE ADMINISTRATION
Preface
LAND RECORDS DEPARTMENT
About Sangli
Introduction.
General Introduction The land revenue system prevalent in Sangli district is rayatwari which is based on the
i complete survey, soil classification and settlement of assessment of every field.
Map
i The original survey settlements were introduced in the district between 1857 and 1867,
General 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,
i
History 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.
i
The People The whole of the district has been surveyed, classified and settled, except 14 villages (13
i Inam villages and one Jagir village from merged State areas). These 14 villages have been
Agriculture and Irrigation surveyed but not settled. The classification operations of these villages have been completed
i under Post-War Reconstruction Schemes (No. 77-AO). However, the rates of assessment are
Industries not as yet declared.
i Survey.
Banking
Trade&Commerce The survey was done by chain and cross-staff in all talukas excepting a few villages, the
i survey of which has been done by M.T. Method. The unit of area is English acre with its sub-
Communications divi sion, the gunthas (121 Sq. Yards, i.e., square formed by one Chain or 11 Yards), 40
i gunthas making one acre. The area of each survey number is separately entered in the Land
Miscellaneous 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.
Occupations
i Accurate village maps have been prepared (generally on a scale of 1" = 20 chains) for all
Economic Trends surveyed villages showing the survey number and their boundary marks and other
i topographical details such as roads, nallas, forests, etc. From these village maps, taluka and
General Administration district maps were prepared on a scale of 1"= 2 miles.
i
Revenue Administration Classification.
i The main classes of lands recognised were dry-crop, garden and rice lands. Each field
Law, Order & Justice was classified with reference to the texture of the soil, its depth and deteriorating factors and
i extra advantages, if any. This district being trap country, the factor of "General Position" has
Other Departments also been taken into consideration. In case of dry-crop lands, e.g., gradual additions are
i made to the soil classification of lands possessing advantages of drainage on account of
Local Self-Government situation of the lands. In the case of rice and garden lands in addition to the soil factors, the
i water factor was also classified in consideration of the duration of the water-supply and kind
Education & Culture of crop grown. The classification value was expressed in terms of annas, 16 annas

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i representing the standard. The soil classification as originally confirmed or made during the
Medical&Public Health revision survey is final and no general reclassification of soil is made again at further revision
Services 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
i
Other Social Services 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
i liable to taxation.
Public Life & Voluntary
Social Service Organisation Settlement and Assessment.
i
Places 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
i 1939 (Bombay XX of 1939), the procedure has been brought on the statute book. The various
Directory of Villages & provisions governing the settlement procedure are contained in chapter VIII-A of the Land
Towns Revenue Code and Chapter III-A of the Land Revenue Rules. The prescribed procedure is, in
i brief, as under: —
Plates
" Settlement " is defined as the result of operations conducted in a taluka or a part of
Appendices 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

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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).

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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;

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(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

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(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:—

Name of the City Year of

Staff in charge of maintenance
or Town introduction

1. Sangli 1928-29 2 Maintenance Surveyors.

2. Miraj 1949 1 Maintenance Surveyor. 1 Clerk.
1 Maintenance -Surveyor (part-time for 8 months and
3. Tasgaon 1948
four months for C. S. work).
4. Ashta 1949 *1 Maintenance Surveyor 5 months
5. Islampur 1943 at Ashta and 7 months at Islampur.

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*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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