Abandonment of holding

(1) Where, during the period of one agricultural year (a) an occupancy tenant or a non-occupancy tenant does not cultivate his holding or leaves the locality in which he usually resided without making any arrangement for the cultivation of his holding, or (b) a grantee does not cultivate the holdings given under the grant or leaves the village in which he usually resides without making proper arrangement for the maintenance of the holding given under the grant. The Sub-Divisional Officer may, after such enquiry as he may deem necessary, take possession of the land comprising the holing and arrange for its cultivation and upkeep by letting it out for a period of one agricultural year at a time on behalf of such occupancy tenant, non-occupancy tenant of grantee (2) Where such occupancy tenant, non-occupancy tenant or grantee or any other person lawfully entitled to the land claims it within a period of three years from the commencement of the agricultural year next following the date on which the Sub-Divisional Officer took possession of the land, it shall be restored to him on payment of the dues, if any and on such terms and conditions as the sub-Divisional Officer may think fit. Provided that no such land shall be restored to the possession of the tenant or grantee or other person unless the period for which such land has been let out by the Sub-Divisional Officer under Sub-Section (1) has expired. (3) Where no claim is preferred under sub-section (2) or if a claim is preferred and disallowed the Sub-Divisional Officer shall make and order declaring the holding abandoned and the holding shall vest absolutely in the Government from such date as may be specified in that behalf in the order. (4) Where a holding is declared abandoned under sub-section (3), the liability of such occupancy tenant, non-occupancy tenant or grantee for the arrears of revenue due from him in respect thereof shall stand discharged.