The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956

THE ANDHRA PRADESH (ANDHRA AREA) INAMS (ABOLITION AND CONVERSION INTO RYOTWARI) ACT, 1956

(Act No. XXXVII of 1956) [14 th December, 1956]

Sections

(1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra, but applies only to inam lands described in clause (c) of section 2. (3) It shall come into force at once.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires --- (a) ‘Collector’ means the Collector of a District; (b) ‘Government’ means the State Government; (c) ‘Inam land’ means any land in respect of which the grant in inam has been made, confirmed or recognized by the Government, and includes any land in the merged territory of Banaganapalle in respect of which the grant in inam has been made, confirmed or recognised by any former Ruler of the territory and includes any land in the merged territory of Banaganapalle in respect of which the grant in Inam has been with or without his consent, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both but does not include an inam constituting an estate under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Estates Land Act, 1908; (d) ‘Inam village’ means a village designated as such in the revenue accounts of the Government and includes a village so designated immediately before it was notified and taken over by the Government under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956; (e) ‘Institution’ means a religious, a charitable or an educational institution. (f) ‘Prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (g) ‘Revenue Court’ means the Court of the Revenue Divisional Officer having jurisdiction over the area in which the inam lands are situate; (h) ‘Ryotwari village’ means a village designated as such in the revenue accounts of the Government; (i) ‘Settlement’ includes resettlement; (j) ‘Tahsildar’ means the Tahsildar having jurisdiction over the area in which the inam lands are situate and includes a Deputy Tahsildar in charge of the taluk or sub-taluk in which the inam lands are situate and an officer of the Revenue Department not lower in rank than a Deputy Tahsildar empowered by the Government in this behalf; (k) ‘Zamindari village’ means a village designated as such in the revenue accounts to the Government and includes a village so designated immediately before it was notified and taken over by the Government under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956.

(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, the Tahsildar, may suo motu and shall on application enquire and determine- (i). Whether a particular land in his jurisdiction is an inam land; (ii). Whether such inam land is in ryotwari, zamindari or inam village; (iii). Whether such inam land is held by any institution. (iv) Whether a particular Inam land is given with a burden/ condition to render service i.e., for performance of a religious or public charity or as a remuneration for performance of certain customary services to such Institution or Endowment (v) Whether such Inam land burdened with serviceis held by service holder, their lenant, alienee, or any other employee of the said institution or Endowment or by any other person in any capacity in any other manner. (2) Before holding such an enquiry, Tahsildar shall cause to be published in the village or town where the inam lands are situate a notice in the prescribed manner requiring every person or institution claiming an interest in any such inam land, to file before him, a statement of particulars in respect of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) within the prescribed time. (3) The Tahsildar shall thereafter give the persons or institutions concerned a reasonable opportunity of adducing any evidence in support of their cases and may also examine any relevant document in the possession of the Government and give his decision in writing in regard to items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) in sub-section (1) and communicate the decision to the persons or institutions. (4) Any person or institution aggrieved by a decision of the Tahsildar under sub-section (3) may appeal to the Revenue Court within 60 days from the date of communication of the decision and the Revenue Court may after giving the parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such orders on the appeal as it thinks fit. (5) The decision of the Revenue Court under sub-section (4), and in case no appeal is filed, the decision of the Tahsildar under sub-section (3) shall be final. (6) Every decision of the Revenue Court under sub-section (4) and if no appeal is filed within the period specified in sub- section (4) every decision of the Tahsildar under sub- section (3), shall as soon as possible, be published in the District Gazette, and in such other manner as may be prescribed. (7) Every decision of the Revenue Court, and subject to such decision, every decision of the Tahsildar under this section, shall be binding on all persons and institutions claiming an interest in any such inam land notwithstanding that such persons or institutions have not filed any application or statement, or adduced any evidence or appeared or participated in the proceedings before the Tahsildar or the Revenue Court, as the case may be.

(2) (b) shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the remaining one third share thereof: and if no tenant has filed an application before the Revenue Court under sub-section (2) of that Section within the period specified therein, the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta in respect of that land; (c) if such a land is held by an inamdar other than an institution on the date of commencement of this Act, but is in the occupation of a tenant on the said date, the tenant who is declared to be in occupation of that land on the 7th January, 1948, by the Revenue Court under sub-section (3) of Section 5, or the Collector under sub-section (5) of that Section, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta of two thirds share of that land and the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the remaining one third share thereof and if no tenant has filed an application before the Revenue Court under sub-section (2) of that Section within the period specified therein the tenant in the occupation of the land on the date of commencement of this Act, shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for two thirds share of that land and the inamdar shall be entitled to a ryotwari patta for the remaining one third share thereof. (3) The one third share of the inam land in occupation of the tenant in respect of which the inamdar is entitled to a ryotwari patta under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed to be the compensation payable to the inamdar in lieu of the extinguishment of his rights in the two thirds share of such land. (4) Notwithstanding any thing contained in this Act, or any other law for the time being in force, where an Inam land is with a burden to render service or for performance of a religious or public charity, or as a remuneration for performance of certain customary service, to an institution or endowment, no person shall be entitled to Ryotwari patta, and the institution or Endowment alone shall be entitled to Ryotwari patta for such inam land without any restriction of extend and without the condition of personal cultivation. Provided that where any person other than concerned charitable or religious institution or endowment obtained a patta for such Inam after the commencement of the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inam (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956, such patta shall and shall be deemed always to have been null and void and no effect shall be given to such patta granted. Provided further that, no person, other than the person to whom the Inam land was given to render service, or far performance of a religious or public charity or as a remuneration for performance of certain customary service, and who is in enjoyment of such Inam Land, shall be entitled to continue in enjoyment of such land as long as the render such service for which that Inam land was originally given.

(1) Any tenant who was in occupation of an inam land in an inam village on the 7th January, 1948, but who is not in occupation thereof at the commencement of this Act having been evicted from such land by or at the instance of the inamdar whether in execution of a decree or order of a Court or other wise, shall be entitled to be restored to occupation of that land as hereinafter provided. Explanation:- For the proposes of this Section the expression "inamdar" includes an institution. (2) Any tenant who is entitled to be restored to occupation of an inam land under sub-section (1) may, within three months after the publication of the decision of the Tahsildar or the Revenue Court, as the case may be, in the District Gazette, under sub-section (6) of Section 3, file an application in the prescribed form before the Revenue Court for a declaration that he was in occupation of the inam land on the 7th January, 1948, and for restoration of occupation thereof. (3) When an application is filed under Sub-section (2), the Revenue Court shall cause to be served in the prescribed manner, a notice requiring the inamdar and if there is any other person who came into occupation of the inam land after the 17th January, 1948, and is in occupation thereof on the date commencement of this Act also the other person aforesaid, to file before it within the prescribed period, objections if any, to the application and after giving the tenant, inamdar and such other person, a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after considering the objections, if any, filed before it pass an order either allowing the application or dismissing it. In an order allowing application, the Revenue Court may impose such conditions as it may consider just and equitable including any conditions in regard to reimbursement to the inamdar or such other person, as the case may be, by the applicant in respect of any labour done and any expenses incurred for the improvement of the land by the inamdar or such other person during the period of his possession or occupation, if there is no agreement between the parties as regards the rate and manner of such reimbursement. (4) Any person or institution aggrieved by an order of the Revenue Court under Sub-section (3), may appeal to the Collector within sixty days from the date of communication of such order. (5) Where any such appeal is filed, the Collector may, after giving the parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such orders on the appeal as he thinks fit. (6) Any order passed by the Collector under sub-section (5), and in case where no appeal is filed, any order passed by the Revenue Court under sub section (3), shall be final and every such order shall have the same effect as a decree of Civil Court and shall be executable by the Revenue Court.

(1) Where there is agreement between the tenant and the inamdar as to the particular portion of the land to be given to inamdar towards his one third share under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub sec. (2) of Section 4, they shall file a joint statement before the Tahsildar to that effect furnishing full particulars; where there is no such agreement, the tenant or the inamdar, shall within the prescribed period make an application to Tahsildar for the determination of the portion of the inam land in the occupation of the tenant to be given to the inamdar towards his one third share. (2) On receipt of such an application the Tahsildar, shall cause to be served in the prescribed manner a notice on the inamdar and the tenant, give them reasonable opportunity of being heard and determine the particular portion of the inam land to be given to the inamdar under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (2) of Section 4 towards his one third share. In so determining the Tahsildar shall have due regard to the nature and value of the land and the convenience of cultivation thereof. (3) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Tahsildar under sub-section (2) may appeal to the Revenue Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the decision and the Revenue Court may, after giving the parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such orders on the appeal as it thinks fit. (4) The decision of the Revenue Court under the Sub-section (3), and where no appeal is filed, the decision of the Tahsildar under sub-section (2) shall be final.

(1) As soon as may be after commencement of this Act and subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the Tahsildar may suo motu and shall, on application by a person or an institution, after serving a notice in the prescribed manner on all the persons or institutions interested in the grant of ryotwari pattas in respect of the inam lands concerned and after giving them a reasonable opportunity of being heard and examining all the relevant records, determine the persons or institutions entitled to ryotwari pattas in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 and grant them ryotwari patta in the prescribed form. Provided that, no person shall be entitled to Ryotwari patta in respect of any Inam land and given to a service holder or other employee of an Institution or endowment or tenant having permanent occupancy rights, alienee or any other manner. Provided further that, notwithstanding any thing inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law, judgment, decree compromiose, order of any judicial or quasi- judicial authority, any, Ryotwari Patta granted before the commencement of this (Amendment) Act, 2011 to any service holder or other employee of a charitable or religious institution or endowment shall be valid so long as themselves or their lineal qualified descendants render service for which the inam is given; Provided also that if the Ryotwari pattadar on his lineal descendent or their alienee failed to render service for the institution for which the land is given, then the person in possession of land shall be evicted buy involking the provisions of law relevant to such institution;

(1) In the case of an inam land held by an institution in an inam village, the tenant who is declared to be in occupation of the inam land on the 7th January, 1948, under Section 5, or if there is no such tenant, the tenant in occupation of the land on the date of commencement of this Act, shall have a right of permanent occupancy in that land and the said right shall be heritable and shall be transferable by sale, gift or otherwise. Provided that in case of Inam Land held by a charitable or religious institution or endowment, no tenant shall have a right or permanent occupancy of the land.

(2) Where any tenant having such right of permanent occupancy; (i) fails to pay rent due by him to the institution (a) in respect of a period immediately before the commencement of this Act, within sixty days from such commencement; or (b) in respect of a period after the commencement of this Act, within sixty days from the date when the rent becomes payable ; or (ii) uses, the land in any manner which materially impairs the value of the land and renders it unfit for agricultural purposes ; it shall be lawful for the institution to evict such tenant as provided in Section 9. Explanation:- For the purposes of this Section, Section 9 and Section 10, the expression "tenant" includes his successor -in- interest.

(1) Any institution seeking to evict a tenant under sub-section (2) of Section 8, may file an application before the Tahsildar for that purpose. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of Section 8, an institution may apply to the Tahsildar for the award of compensation in addition to, or in lieu of eviction for the damage or waste caused by the tenants; the institutions, may also apply for an order prohibiting the tenant from damaging or wasting the land in any manner in case the tenant is not evicted. (3) On receipt of such an application, the Tahsildar shall cause a notice to be served in the prescribed manner on all the persons and institutions concerned and after hearing their representations, if any, pass an order either allowing the application or rejecting it. While passing an order allowing the application for eviction, the Tahsildar may make such further orders as appear to him to be just and equitable: Provided that where the application is allowed, no tenant shall be evicted from the land until he has cut and gathered the crops raised by him on such land. (4) Any person or institution aggrieved by an order of the Tahsildar under sub-section (3) may appeal to the Revenue Court within sixty days from the date of communication of such order and the Revenue Court may, after giving the parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard pass such orders on the appeal as it thinks fit. (5) The decision of the Revenue Court under Sub-section (4), and where no appeal is filed, the decision of the Tahsildar under sub-section (3), shall be final.

Where a tenant is evicted under Section 9 from in inam land the institution holding the inam land shall after publishing a notice in the prescribed manner lease out the said inam land.

(1) Every person or institution who or which is granted a ryotwari patta under this Act shall, with effect on and from the date of the grant of the ryotwari patta, be liable to pay to the Government the ryotwari assessment as hereinafter provided. (a) if a person or an institution is granted a ryotwari patta under this Act in respect of an inam land which has been subjected to the assessment as determined under the provisions of the Andhra Inams (Assessment) Act, 1955 (Andhra Act XVII of 1995) ; the person or institution shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any engagement, contract, grant or other law for the time being in force be liable, to pay such assessment in respect of that land. (b) If a person or an institution is granted a ryotwari patta under this Act in respect of an inam land not falling under clause (a), the person or institution shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any engagement, contract, grant or other law for the time being in force, be liable to pay the ryotwari assessment to the Government, with effect on and from the date on which he or it is granted a ryotwari patta at the following rates: (i) if a settlement notification is in force in the village in which the inam land is situated at the rates of assessment set out in such notification for lands of the same taram and classification; and (ii) in cases not falling under sub-section (i), at the rates of assessment to be fixed by the Tahsildar with reference to settlement rates for similar lands in the neighbouring ryotwari villages: Provided that if any Jodi or Kattubadi is payable in respect of an inam land to the landholder of an estate, the amount of such Jodi or Kattubadi shall be deducted from the assessment payable to the Government under this Section. Explanation:- If any quit rent, Jodi, Kattubadi or other amount of like nature was payable to the Government in respect of any inam land immediately before the granting of a ryotwari patta the assessment leviable on such inam land under this Section shall be in lieu of such quit rent, Jodi, Kattubadi or other amount aforesaid. (2) (a) Before fixing the assessment, under clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Tahsildar shall publish in the District Gazette, and in such other manner as may be prescribed, a draft notification specifying the inam lands in respect of which the assessment is proposed to be fixed under sub-section (1) and the rates of such assessment, together with a notice specifying a date, not being less than thirty days from the date of such publication, after which the said draft shall be taken into consideration; and he shall confirm or modify such assessment or pass such orders as he deems fit, after considering any objections which may be made in respect of the said draft by the ryotwari patta holder or other person interested before the specified date. (b) Any person or institution aggrieved by a decision of the Tahsildar under Clause (a) may appeal to the Revenue Court within the prescribed period, and the Revenue Court may, after giving the parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard; pass such orders on the appeal as it thinks fit. (c) The decision of the Revenue Court under clause (b), and where no appeal is filed the decision of the Tahsildar under Clause (a), shall be final. (3) The inam lands and the rates of assessment fixed respect thereof shall be published in the District Gazette, and such other manner as may be prescribed.

The Tahsildar, the Revenue Court and the Collector shall have the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely: (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath. (b) requiring the discovery or production of documents, (c) receiving evidence on affidavits, and (d) issuing commissions for inspection of lands and for examination of witnesses or documents.

No suit or other proceeding shall be instituted in any Civil Court to set aside or modify any decision of the Tahsildar, the Revenue Court, or the Collector under this Act, except where such decision is obtained by misrepresentation, fraud or collusion of parties.

Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Act the provisions of this Act and of any orders and rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law.

If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may make such orders, not inconsistent with the said provisions, as appear to them to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty.

(1) The Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. (2) Every rule made, under this section shall, immediately after it is made, be laid, before each House of the State Legislature if it is in session, and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following, for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled, as the case may be, so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule